Customer Reviews

Moving Target

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By 1996, Royal Hunt had pretty much established their keyboard-heavy melodic metal sound. They just needed one ingredient to help them reach major (for this kind of music) success. They needed a better singer. While previous vocalist Henrik Brockmann did an admirable job on the band's previous albums (Land of Broken Hearts and Clown in the Mirror), Royal Hunt needed a charismatic vocalist with more power and range.

Enter D.C. Cooper.

D.C. Cooper was exactly what Royal Hunt needed. His soaring melodic voice and charismatic stage presence helped catapult the band to major success, particularly in metal-loving Japan. His presence on the band's third album, 1996's Moving Target, was a dramatic improvement over the early Royal Hunt albums.

Musically, Moving Target is very similar to its predecessors. It is a keyboard-heavy melodic metal album that also shows some progressive metal elements. Band leader Andre Anderssen's songwriting continued to improve, and the number of "filler" tracks again decreased. Indeed, many of the tracks on Moving Target are considered the band's best.

D.C. Cooper's amazing vocal performance is what steals the show though. His power and range fit the music perfectly, and made a good album extraordinary. I still have a hard time believing it was his first ever album. I've had the good fortune of hearing D.C. live twice, and can happily confirm that his voice is just as amazing live as it is on the albums.

Moving Target is probably my favorite Royal Hunt album (unless you count the killer 2-disc live set "1996"). I know that Paradox is more progressive and has better songwriting, but for some reason the songs on this album just stick in my head a bit more. This is dynamite stuff that should please anyone into melodic hard rock and metal.

NOTE: There are a number of different versions of Moving Target. The best is the NEMS/Rock Brigade version, which features the entire 1995 Far Away live EP as bonus tracks, for a total of 15 songs.

Already at the very first time I listen to this record the hair on my arms rised. I almost get lost for words to describe this album. It`s almost perfect in all the way. And with Dc.Cooper powerfull and harmonic voice it can`t be done any better than this.Great synth cords, great guitar playing, powerfull and harmonic singing, load drumming with great beat,you can`t ask for more. The melodies has the right proggresive elements, not to much so you drown in it an not to less that you miss it. Thigth and energic, light, not as "dark" as the realise before Moving Target because of Dc.Coopers more harmonic voice. This masterpiece realise come out in 1992.Best songs on this album i would say: Last goodbye,1348,Far away,Step by Step and Autograph. I recommend you this album strongly, don`t miss it if you like the more synth harmonic proggresive rock in a little bit lighter sound. A superior album from this Danish group.

I discovered this CD, Moving Target, a few months ago and was very positively surprised. The singing is great, the orchestral + hard rock sound is great, very powerful instrumentally, cool drum parts, and the keyboards of course sharp and great as always.

Some of the best songs on this CD are 1348, Step by Step, and Stay Down. A lot of the already great vocals here are improved by the female background vocals, really adds a great touch to songs like 'Step by Step.'

If you listen to this album you'll sometimes feel like you're listening to classical music done with rock/metal instruments, it can really be that classical. But other times it'll be completely hard rock/metal. This album certainly provides a lot of variety, its great stuff.

If you end up liking this, check out Clown in the Mirror, also a great album by Royal Hunt.