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3.0 out of 5 stars
3.5 stars - solid Swedish power metal album, December 5, 2008
This review is from: Maleficum (Audio CD)
1996's Maleficium is the fifth studio release from long-running Swedish power/traditional heavy metal band Morgana Lefay.
Maleficium is a throwback to the classic American power metal sound. Between the traditional metal song structures and subject matter and a few well-placed symphonic elements, the album is very similar to Savatage's breakthrough album
Hall of the Mountain King. Morgana Lefay doesn't have a guitarist of Criss Oliva's caliber, but Charles Rytkonen's gruff vocals definitely bring to mind Jon Oliva's signature style. Songs like "Victim of the Inquisition" and "Dragon's Lair" in particular sound like
Sirens b-sides. Aside from a few throwaway instrumentals, the whole album is hard hitting, very melodic, and is quite a bit more muscular than the more neoclassical minded power metal bands tend to be.
Morgana Lefay may not be breaking any new ground with this album, but Maleficium is a very solid metal album that should appeal to fans of traditional and/or power metal bands like Brainstorm, Tad Morose, Symphorce, Hammerfall, Jon Oliva's Pain, and especially old school Savatage.
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