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"A slightly disappointing little misstep for the Flower Kings with a too long album, very dense and often difficult to access..."
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3/5
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The Flower Kings are definitely in Olympic shape! After three albums released in 2018, 2019 and 2020, the cosmopolitan band releases its new double-album named "By Royal Decree", with an artwork reminding the aesthetics of the excellent "Waiting For Miracles" and the third consecutive with no less than 18 tracks!
If the first side of "Waiting For Miracles" and "Islands" were very qualitative, these two albums had the common point to show a second part more dispensable, like a disc of bonus tracks. This time, "By Royal Decree" seems to be a form of compilation of tracks coming from the 2019/2020 era. The hooks are less numerous than in the past, the melodies often have less feeling, so much so that it is difficult to really penetrate the universe of Roine Stolt and his companions.
But above all, when listening to this double opus, it is a feeling of "already heard" that is quite problematic for the listener ('The Soldier' to name but one, but almost all the tracks are concerned). All the tracks seem to be some kind of re-adaptation of other better and more accomplished songs. The gimmicks of the band are legion, and it seems that the compositions follow more or less always the same patterns and the same workings.
Paradoxically, while the universe of the band is totally whimsical and twirling, "By Royal Decree" seems very predictable. The sound of the keyboards, the lead guitar phrasing and the breaks are omnipresent, and contrary to the previous times, the whole doesn't convince ('World Gone Crazy'). The breaks in terms of dynamics sometimes clumsy and the multiple changes of tonalities can often seem unfortunate and accentuate a certain feeling of loss of reference marks, as on 'Blinded', testifying nevertheless to a certain potential.
We will note nevertheless some interesting tracks like 'The Great Pretender', surely one of the best constructed and most convincing, with a side a little more easy-listening thanks to its well felt chorus. Some tracks manage to vary the ambiences. It is the case of 'We Can Make It Work' or of 'A Million Stars', more acoustic, which both bring a wind of freshness.
"By Royal Decree" seems to be a slightly disappointing misstep for the Flower Kings. Too long album, very dense, it often gives the dizziness by its hermetic character and hardly convince. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. The Great Pretender - 6:55
02. World Gone Crazy - 5:04
03. Blinded - 7:45
04. A Million Stars - 7:11
05. The Soldier - 5:23
06. The Darkness In You - 5:13
07. We Can Make It Work - 2:48
08. Peacock On Parade - 5:15
09. Revolution - 5:59
10. Time The Great Healer - 6:12
11. Letter - 2:25
12. Evolution - 4:47
13. Silent Ways - 5:01
14. Moth - 4:31
15. The Big Funk - 4:39
16. Open Your Heart - 5:17
17. Shrine - 1:08
18. Funeral Pyres - 7:14
LINEUP:
Hasse Fröberg: Chant / Guitare Acoustique
Michael Stolt: Basse
Mirko Demaio: Batterie / Percussions
Roine Stolt: Chant / Guitares / Claviers / Ukulele
Zach Kamins: Claviers
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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Top of the page
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(0) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
4.2/5 (4 view(s))
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STAFF:
3.3/5 (3 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH THE FLOWER KINGS
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LAST INTERVIEW
THE FLOWER KINGS (OCTOBER 2020)
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The unstoppable Flower Kings took advantage of a creative confinement that allowed them to release a new album, "Islands". Meeting with the leader of the band, Roine Stolt.
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT THE FLOWER KINGS
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