Thanks Artur!!!
Also Reviews for the following three projects:
Artist/ Band: Majestic
Title: Arrival
Label: Mals
Year of Release: 2009
Offical Artist/ Band Link
“Wish” (9:12) which is a vehicle for Jessica’s vocals. Jeff plays a softer almost acoustic guitar playing here. The song reminds me of a Wish You Were Here vibe. Next up is “Glide” (9:36). The instrumentation switched gears to a metallic guitar assault, almost a flip side of “Wish”. About 4 minutes into the song, there tempo slows down then continues on with the metallic wave. This song will satisfy most progressive metal and heavy progressive rock fans alike.
The ending song, is the title track (36:04).Aside from having the album title, this is the main focal point of the album. It also showcases how the band sounds in 2009. From it’s spacey beginning, “Arrival” takes the listener on an aural journey. While having some metallic guitar parts, especially towards the end, this is further from the progressive metal vibe the rest of the album has. This song alone is, to me, what the Majestic output is all about (in 2009). I was told by Jeff that the next album will have a different sound.
In closing both Jeff & Jessica create what has become a favorite of mine. Had I received this back in 2009, it would surely grace my favorites of that year, hands down. If you like long epic lengthy tracks and a fan of Pink Floyd and the spacier side of Ayreon then Arrival is the album you need in your collection. With excellent instrumentation and vocals, Arrival gets a high recommendation!
Clover, a 4 part suite was recorded after Arrival, and are a seperate enitiy, I felt it important to mention Clover here within this review. According to Jeff, he wanted to have some shorter peices of music to show what Majestic was all about. It was also recorded while Jeff & Jessica were contributing to the Proximal Distance project (which has been reviewed here). The Clover suite is available as a FREE downlaod on the Majestic website. If you’re already a fan of the band or even a newbie (such as myself) this would a perfect starting point within the Majestic catalog.
Reviewed by Ron Fuchs on May 31st, 2010
Original Link Found Here:
Prolusion. The US outfit MAJESTIC is the creative vehicle of composer and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Hamel, who made his debut, “Discension”, under this moniker in 2007. Since he was signed by Russian label MALS Records, which reissued his first effort, he’s recorded and released a second album on vinyl, and now in 2009 his third production “Arrival” has, well, arrived.
Analysis. While I found the initial effort from Hamel’s Majestic project to be rather underwhelming, I was pleasantly surprised by this latest effort courtesy of this talented composer and musician. In two years he’s managed to substantially improve what I felt where the main flaws of his first production, and this time around we’re dealing with an album that comes across as well made and well performed in all departments. Of the four creations at hand on this disc, the first and the last, Gray and Arrival are the ones of real importance. Clocking in at 58 minutes in total, these two efforts dominate this release, and, as they are the best tracks by far as well, these are the ones who will make or break this excursion. Both compositions seem to have a foundation of sorts in a stylistic expression rather similar to mid-‘70s Pink Floyd. Wandering acoustic and clean electric guitars form the melodic foundation, bass and drums support in the rhythm department, while rich, warm layers of keyboards, organ and synth add a symphonic backdrop or overlay, more often than not with space-tinged embellishments. On select occasions heavier passages add a metal tinge to the proceedings, while mellow acoustic and ambient, spacey keyboard passages add variation of a more gentle nature. Instrumental sequences and vocal parts are well balanced, and, while vocalist Jessica Rasche is a real find for Hamel, his own vocal contributions aren’t too shabby either – a great improvement from Majestic’s 2007 debut. Both compositions shift back and forth between gentler and more energetic movements, rich in melodies and harmonies. Not the most challenging music around, but the tracks are well made and well performed, and more often than not it’s hard to tell that this is, in fact, a one-man effort rather than a full-fledged band. And, while moments of true brilliance aren’t quite yet within the grasp of Hamel, the improvements he’s made in just two years indicate that it won’t be long until he creates an album that will make a stunning impact.
Conclusion. “Arrival” is a strong effort by a rapidly evolving musician and composer who might find himself becoming a household name in record time if he keeps evolving as much as he has done over the last two years. Those fond of symphonic, space-tinged progressive rock made in a manner similar to Pink Floyd’s mid 70’s efforts should find it an interesting production – particularly if long, epic length compositions are of interest.
OMB=Olav M Bjornsen: March 15, 2010
The Rating Room
The Jan 2010 issue of Prog-résiste magazine features an interview (in French) with Jeff Hamel of Majestic along with a review of Majestic’s Arrival CD. Prog-résiste is a belgian “Non Profit Making Association” having the aim to promote the Progressive Rock in Belgium, in other french-speaking countries and all around the world if possible.
Be sure to check out Prog-résiste at http://www.progresiste.com
The english translation of the interview conducted by Alex Willem is as follows:
Interview on 11/04/2009
To start, can you please present yourself shortly?
My name is Jeff Hamel and I am the musician primarily responsible for the music of Majestic. Majestic is a neo-symphonic prog recording project out of Minnesota, USA.
“Arrival” is your second album. Can you tell us the genesis of this album? What has been the creation process of it ?
Actually, Arrival is my third album release. My first was Descension and that was followed by String Theory. However, due to the label issues S.T. was not promoted the way it should have been. Fortunately, Mals Ltd picked up Descension and released it under their label. Mals being a progressive rock and metal label really opened the door for Majestic.
In Oct 2008, I found an unknown vocalist Jessica Rasche looking for a band in our local area. I heard some samples she had done with some other musicians. Even though Jessica’s music was quite different from Majestic I thought her voice would be a strong asset to the project. So I suggested collaboration on a track or two just to hear what the final product would sound like. We put the samples out and the responses were overwhelmingly positive. It was quite clear that her voice fit perfectly with the Majestic sound. Subsequently, I invited her to be the primary vocalist of Majestic and the Arrival recording sessions began.
Do you see an evolution between this album and the previous one ?
Most Definitely, Descension was a collection of smaller pieces of music written in 2006-2007 which was bordering progressive and just rock. Deservingly, it received only midgrade reviews. I have always been recording ideas down and descension was my first attempt at putting anything out there to the public.
My next attempt was String Theory. This was quite a bit more progressive in terms of being a concept CD. However, the songs were not as long due to limitations of label wanting me to keep the tracks less than 10 minutes long and be more like popular American rock. String Theory was superior to Descension but the CD went into obscurity rather quickly from virtually no promotion.
When I began recording Arrival I decided to write something that I liked to hear and not worry about whether people would like it or buy it. I just wrote for myself and I have always enjoyed the longer epic sounding tracks. Also I have always had the desire to do something “bigger”. In addition, Jessica’s vocal talent opened up new doors for the music. Her vocals allowed me to go heavier than I had before. My vocals are passable on softer music but with Jessica handling the heavier riffs I felt the sky is the limit.
To the exception of the vocals (performed by Jessica Rasche), you play all the instruments (like Mike Oldfield…). Is it something you enjoy to play all instruments?
Very much. The guitar has always been my main instrument. Playing all the instruments is like a double edge sword. The good part is that I have 100% control over the music and direction it takes with no arguments. The bad part is I have no one to bounce ideas off of when I get stuck on a part. Over all playing all the instruments has worked out and the good outweighs the bad.
The album starts with a long track and ends with another long track? This is very Rock Progressive. What do you think? Do you claim doing Prog music?
I rarely listen to anything except progressive music. I enjoy music that takes the listener places and lets them use their imagination. I write music I enjoy listening to and Prog music involves more epic intricate tracks that you continue to get new things out of every time you listen. Arrival allowed me to write something that I as prog fan was able to enjoy.
What are the artists who influenced your work?
In no particular order, some of the bands that move me are Yes, Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, Ayreon, Riverside, Genesis, Rush and Pink Floyd.
How do they influence your work?
I try to pick up bits and pieces from songs I like. If you break down a Majestic track you will find all these influences throughout the music. Although, I have never been into learning and playing other peoples music their influences will always be there.
Listening to your music, it reminded us (at Progresiste) the music of Saga, especially the track “wish”. Is this also an influence?
I will take that as a compliment. Saga is a great band. Though I thought “wish” was more Steven Wilson’s No-Man influenced.
Is that kind of music popular in the US? Is it easy to tour to present it?
There are some great prog bands here in the states. Short of some festivals, progressive music is not as popular as it should be. There is no denying Majestic has a much bigger following overseas.
What are the things you are happy about this album and what would you like to redo?
I am thrilled with the response the CD has received. I knew with Jessica’s voice we were creating something new and fresh, however with the mediocre reviews of past material I had no idea “Arrival” would be so widely accepted.
As a musician, I always hear things I think could have been done better or different. That being said, I am a strong believer that you make a song as well as you can at the time and then put a stake in the ground and move on. I just take the mistakes and learn not to repeat them next time around.
What are your project for near future?
For about a year now I have been collaborating with Gregg Johns of Slychosis on a project called Proximal Distance. We are almost done recording and are looking to release around end of 2009 or early 2010. This CD will feature Jessica and I (Majestic) along with Gregg Johns, Todd Sears, and Jeremy Mitchell from Slychosis. We are really excited about this project.
What would you say to our reader to invite them to listen your music?
Majestic is relatively new on the prog scene and definitely worth checking out. If you are a fan of prog you won’t be disappointed because this album touches on the many different styles. Stop by our website at www.majesticsongs.com . There we have free downloadable music, reviews, and current updates on our projects.
