A melodic power metal act from Australia,
Black Majesty are an unabashed return to the late '70s and early '80s, when bands like
Iron Maiden and
Saxon ruled the metal scene and doing a
Deep Purple cover (specifically the
David Coverdale-era "Soldier of Fortune") was not automatic grounds for mockery. As it happens, the cover is pretty good, as is the rest of
Tomorrowland. The key to
Black Majesty is their remarkably talented singer, John Cavaliere; his voice is strongly reminiscent of
Iron Maiden's
Bruce Dickenson, especially at those (quite frequent) points when he goes for the traditional power metal falsetto. But more than that, Cavaliere just has an unexpectedly tuneful, appealing vocal sound that's more based in hard rock gruffness than hair metal shriek. Think
Bon Scott, not Axl Rose. Add in the band's knack for tempering its headbanging unison riffing and speed metal breakdowns with actual solos and melodic hooks and
Tomorrowland is that rarity, a contemporary metal album that can also be enjoyed by folks who haven't bought a single metal album since
Dio broke up. ~ Stewart Mason