Much to recommend for the seasoned adherent of the neo-classical power metal genre.
Signum Regis was founded by the bass player Ronnie König and features journeyman vocalist Göran Edman (Yngwie Malmsteen / John Norum / Glory / Brazen Abbot / Street Talk / Karmakanic / Vindictiv / Stratosphere et al). The other members are guitarists Ado Kaláber and Filip Koluš, keyboard player Ján Tupý and drummer Adrián Ciel. 'The Eyes Of Power' is the band's second album and is conceptually about Roman/Persian relationships in the Middle East in the early Christian era.
The band operates within the sphere of melodic neo-classical power metal. As you might imagine from the subject matter of this album, it is a rather cerebral affair with which I found it extraordinarily difficult to engage at an emotional level. I really cannot fault the performances - all of which appear to have been very carefully pieced together and honed very precisely by the talented combo, and including some mid-eastern motifs - but it is so tremendously intense that I have failed to connect further with 'The Eyes Of Power' after numerous listens than I had managed to do after the first!
It is a relatively short album of its ilk (just under 42 minutes) and the nine tracks (three of which: 'Renewal In The East', 'The Underground Temple Of Mithras', and 'Roma Aeterna' are instrumentals) are all fairly concise, only closing track 'Destroyers Of The World' (coinidentally, one of the more accessible of the songs) reaching six minutes. Goran Edman's voice is perfectly suited to the material, as it has a presence and command necessary for the gravitas of the lyrical content by Tommy König. The dual guitar neo-classical solos are everywhere breathtaking and are fundamental in framing the overall sound of the band, but one should not ignore the keyboard mastery from Ján Tupý that shines throughout, but never more so than the haunting piano introduction to 'Roma Aeterna'.
So while 'The Eyes of Power' perhaps comes across as a rather clinical album, there is certainly much to recommend for the seasoned adherent of the neo-classical power metal genre.
Paul Jerome Smith
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