Drawing influence and inspiration from such metal greats as Yngwie Malmsteen, Axel Rudi Pell, Stratovarius, MasterPlan, Loudness, etc, MAJUSTICE are a Japanese/multinational band who are putting out their new album “Ancestral Recall“.
The band is pure ’90s style regarding the aforementioned influences, with a bright melodic metal sound and some hard rock commerciality. While the core of the band is Japanese including virtuoso guitarist Kelly Simonz, they have been clever to feature western a vocalist to appeal a wider audience.
Alongside main singer Iuri Sanson (Eternity’s End, ex-Hibria), there’s Mike Vescera (ex-Loudness, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen) doing lea on teo tracks, and Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear) on other. Add to that impressive keyboardist Vitalij Kuprij on all tracks to provide that classy atmosphere.
Some songs are punchy metallic stomp with great guitar work and energetic rhythm section (drummer Ryuichi Nishida of Loudness guest on one track) while others are hard rock oriented ala Axel Rudi Pell / Rainbow, even the number ‘Give It Up’ has a melodic hard rock sound.
Full of dizzying guitar solos and soaring vocals (courtesy of the always capable Vescera) opener ‘Infinite Visions’ is a song that lifts the listener up on feathered wings and carries you towards some infinitesimal point on the horizon. The interplay between guitarists Jien Takahashi and Kelly Simonz is simply stunning and when you factor in some nifty noodling from keyboardist Vitalij Kuprij (who also plies his trade in Californian progressive metal band Ring Of Fire) you have a song that blurs its colours like a wildly rotating spinning top.
All of the musicians comprised into MAJUSTICE are leaders in their field and the dexterity they display is terrific, but while much technically proficient can result mechanical and sterile, that’s definitely not the case with this album.
These songs have the human touch, and variation. After some granite melodic metal numbers, the anthemic melodic hard rocker ‘Give It Up’ would have been a huge hit had it been released in the 1980s, while the emotive ‘Dangerous’ tugs at the heartstrings and leaves you drained at its haunting conclusion.
Much of the band’s prowess comes from Sanson’s versatile voice and his impressive range handles both rockers and ballads with equal aplomb. Of course having Vescera and Scheepers (who perform on the high-octane ‘Temple of the Divided World’) helps a lot.
While diverse in its line-up, MAJUSTICE delivers a sound that’s far bigger than their constituent parts. ”Ancestral Recall” is a foot-on-the-monitor, horns-held-high musical celebration and one that should bring the band some global attention.
1. Infinite Visions 05:34
2. Temple of the Divided World 04:18
3. Ancestral Recall 04:39
4. You Rock My World 04:31
5. Tears of the Sky 04:09
6. New Horizon 04:19
7. Give It Up 03:43
8. Dangerous 05:28
9. Sonata Black 05:24
10. Now Your Turn 05:00
11. New Horizon (Alternate Version)
12. Now Your Turn (Iuri Sanson Version)
MAJUSTICE feat Michael Vescera /Ralf Scheepers – Ancestral Recall 2023
 |
