My introduction to this German US Power Metal-styled act came through the release (and subsequent review) of their 2009 album Fire Angel (review posted may 24 of same year). The “Archive” section of our website (where you would normally be able to find said review for your fact-finding needs) not currently being available, I have no idea whom of my colleagues “did” the band's previous album, 2011's Ravenslord or, if indeed we gt to do that album at all. Still, the guys wére on the self-released 4-way EP Wolsnaechte, released in collaboration with Powerwolf, Stormwarrior and Lonewolf at the end of 2011 for their joint tour.
As it turns out, quite a few things happened to Mystic Prophecy since the 2009 album. Promoted, among others, with a lengthy European tour in support of Strativarius and several festival performances throughout Europe, the band broke away from its one-album-per-year status, but also brought about a first break of the line-up which was then established, as Stefan Dittrich let later in 2009. He was replaced in early 2010 by one Claudio Sisto (formerly of Firereign, Necroid and Contracrash, and currently with Barbie On Deathtrip), and it's in that new line-up (also including band founder & lead singer R.D. Liapakis, guitarists Constantine – joined Oct. 2008 – and Markus Pohl – band member since 2004, and bassist Connie “Connor” Andreszka – also joined Oct. 2008) went back to the studio to record their 2011 album Ravanslord, which was again mixed (he'd done the same for the preceding album by famed producer Fredrik Nordström. The line-up however proved to be unstable for reasons I was unable to ascertain. New drummer is one Tyronne Silva (formerly of Tangent Plane and currently also active in Orth), whom took over from Claudio Sisto in 2011. Also, lead guitarist Constantine (whom had joined MP in 2008) left earlier this year, leaving his spot to one Laki Ragazas (also active with Oliver Weers and Devil's Train)...and the band has apparently also re-located to Nürnberg.
Which brings us back to the current album which, in my opinion, seems to have something of a topical red thread going through it...not in the album as a whole, but in certain songs (grouped together, as by coïncidence?, in the first part of the album). Album opener and title track has a faint musical reference to the near-Orient, as does the track “Hate Black” in a more pronounced way. In between, “Armies Of Hell” with their reference to “suicide solution” is a clear reference to suicide bombings, and the songs “To Hell And Back” (with its balladesque opening) and “Kill The Beast” seem to connect somehow, as does the album's 6th track, “Children Of The Damned”. Of course, I could be completely wrong, you know, and I personally blame the label's lazy way of promoting their new material (I mean, they just offer an album for download, and don't even bother to give you the track-list)!
Whatever...at any rate the new MP album again rocks, and I'm sure many Power Metal fans did not wait for this here review to go get the album (I know...I'm 2 months late in reviewing it, but then I also only got the download like two and a half ways ago, with plenty of other stuff still needing to be done before I could get to it). People not familiar with the style/ band, are highly recommended to go check out the band's own (www.) mysticprophecy.net, and find the track “Killhammer” playing automatically. Other songs on the player include the new album's tracks “To Hell And Back” and “Kill The Beast”. The band's already done a headliner German tour (with Jaded Heart, Sirens Cry and Sebastien as support acts) during October, and I'm sure more dates, this time also taking the band outside their home country, will be forthcoming for early 2014. Oh, by the way, if you're interested in listening to some older songs, check out the “BandProfile” section at (www.) facebook.com/mysticprophecy.