Though hailing from Italy, Thy Majestie have less in common with fellow countrymen Rhapsody than most (present company included) might immediately presume. However, upon hearing the Sicilian sextet firsthand many will likely draw comparisons from other regions of the world, Sweden in particular. Sharing much stylistically with the Swedish power metal scene, Thy Majestie sits comfortably somewhere between Axenstar and Dragonland, if not a more symphonic and less epic representation of each, respectively. Their fourth full-length and first on the young Dutch Dark Balance imprint, Dawn is a well written and dynamic offering that should appeal to all power metal fans, no matter which brand you generally prefer.

Divided into three chapters, it would appear that Dawn is a concept album of sorts, however, without any liner notes or lyrics it’s near impossible to determine exactly what the plot of the story being told is. Given that past releases have delved heavily into historical events rather than fantasy, it’s safe to assume that this outing would follow in suit. From what I’ve gathered I could elevate toward a handful of different scenarios but in the end I’d still probably be way off, so I’ll spare you my speculation.

With twelve remarkable tracks spread over fifty-plus minutes, finding the one song that stands out among the others is a daunting task, as nearly every second of Dawn is competently and passionately performed. Each track boasts a well balanced mix of mid to up-tempo pacing with a heavy emphasis on melodies that are as technical as they are memorable. Some may argue that the five part centerpiece “The Legacy Suite” as a whole is the album’s crowning achievement, and while I won’t dismiss its significance, I feel it’s too short in length to warrant the multi track treatment when it could have just as easily been one fifteen minute song. Other than that single inconsequential grievance there is nothing negative that I could possibly say about this album.

While I was previously unfamiliar with Thy Majestie, Dawn has impressed me enough to ensure a trek through the band’s back catalogue, sooner than later. What I initially assumed would be a generic Rhapsody knockoff surprisingly turned out to be nothing less than top tier power metal with the occasional progressive accent. If you enjoy the aforementioned Axenstar and Dragonland as well as acts such as Nocturnal Rites, Dark Moor, Crystal Eyes, and Kamelot, I’d strongly recommend adding Dawn to your album collection as it possesses all of the genres finest qualities and very few of its faults.

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