A true gemstone of US-Metal is the 1999 album "Kingdom Of The Knights" by GOTHIC KNIGHTS. The artsy drawn cover alone, showing two knights with raised lances, makes you eagerly await the content. And it very impressively matches the great visuals. We get melodic Power Metal, perfectly played, on the highest level. No European bombast or nursery rhyme-influences, here is celebrated what the Americans had been standing for in the Eighties: Best Metal in tradition of STEEL PROPHET, OMEN, TENSION, FATES WARNING etc.
The speedy opener "At Dawn You Die" already crushes any doubts and kindles a headbanging-orgy. The absolutely fantastic vocals strike first, also convincing in the higher pitches. And that's just the beginning, always straight, always heroic, here rather mid-paced, there slightly progressively tinted, then more hymnic. Overall a great album from the U.S. band.
