Swedish power metal’rs Majestica have graced us with a break from the normal festive jingles with a concept Christmas album based on the haunting of Ebenezer Scrooge from the famous Muppets movie – A Christmas Carol. What, it was an extremely well known novel long before a Muppets movie? Bah Humbug, I’m sure I would have heard if it was.
Majestica released their debut album Above The Sky back in 2019. However they have already lived through a previous life. Prior to becoming Majestica, they started life as Reinxeed, a band formed by now Sabaton guitarist Tommy Johansson. Releasing 6 albums combining epic power metal with concept themes and a film score feel, they have very much kept their style through their appellative transformation.
I have been a huge fan of Reinxeed for a long time now. It’s fantastic to see them now getting the recognition they deserve as Majestica. No doubt a combination of Tommy joining fellow Swedish titans Sabaton as guitarist in 2016, and joining major record label Nuclear Blast Records helped to increase their profile immeasurably. Showcasing here their penchant for excellent song writing and injecting fun into their music. Any time this is broadcast to a wider audience is a win in my books!
Never has it been so joyful to hear all your favourite Christmas carols expertly intertwined into gloriously epic power metal. O Come All Ye Faithful, God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman, Jingle Bells, Hark the Herald Angels Sing. Man I would have enjoyed single carols door to door as a child a hell of a lot more if we were belting them out behind a screaming guitar solo. Alas but to dream.
To be honest I could easily have seen this coming. If any genre of metal is going to perfectly combine with jaunty festive music it would be epic power metal. Most of heavy metal is dark, introspective, moody and grim. Power metal most obviously bucks this trend. Belting out the major scale with a fist of pure steel on a shining white horse of hope and freedom. Never doth a conjoining been so sweet.
This album follows a retold story of the story of A Christmas Carol. A song for the Ghost of Marley and each of the three Ghosts of Past, Present and To Come. The Joy of Christmas has Tommy’s powerful vocals in all it’s glory and is closest to a traditional Christmas ballad. A Majestic Christmas Theme rounds off the album leaving you with a warm heart, joyful soul and provides a welcome moment of solace in an otherwise lonely year.
If you only manage to make one Christmas musical discovery this winter, then make sure it is Majestica‘s A Christmas Carol. Whether you are a fan of heavy metal or not, everyone needs a bit of Christmas cheer which we are all stuck at home during the verminous scourge that is 2020. Joy to the world!
REVIEW: Check out the Christmas EP offering from Poppy A Very Poppy Christmas.
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