The nascent days of subgenres are often the most exciting. This is a time where a sound is being forged and new bands are appearing on a rapid basis, allured by the possibility of contributing musically. With very little set norms or conventions, the early adopters are capable of all playing wildly different forms of the style yet still fall under the same umbrella. Yet at some point, once the style gains popularity, imitators flock in and tired tropes and frameworks begin to take hold. As time progresses, the sound progresses further from its origins to become almost indistinguishable with where it started. To some extent, this has happened to many subgenres of metal, but Melodic Death Metal is arguably one of the most impacted ones.
Despite being one of extreme metal’s most popular styles, the wide difference that exists between early Melodic Death Metal (which can range from anywhere between 1991 and 1996 up until the late 90s depending on you who you ask) and what came after is night and day – as the genre progressively strayed further and further from its death metal origins. In very recent years however, a small cohort of bands have sought to re-explore the early days of the genre and to breathe new life into it – acts such as Mefitis, Draghkar, Dungeon Serpent, In Nothingness to name a few. Now with arrival of Majesties, another band joins the fray.
While technically a new band, Majesties is by no means composed of novice musicians. The band is a union of members from Obsequiae and Inexorum, both acts that could have easily been mentioned in the previous paragraphs as devotees keeping the style alive and well. Yet while Obsequiae is a band that takes Melodic Death/Black to infuse it with medieval music structures and Inexorum delivers a more atmospheric and brooding version; Majesties is a passionate homage to the early days of the genre, particularly the first releases of the Gothenburg school. This is apparent with its rampant use of carefully crafted and elegant harmonized riffs. In Flames would be an easy and obvious point of comparison, with the intro ‘In Yearning, Alive’ immediately launching into dual guitar melodies that would not be out of place on either ‘Subterranean’ or ‘The Jester Race’.
Yet while the influence is there and a couple of tracks (‘The World Unseen’ and the intro to ‘Verdant Paths to Radiance’ especially), the band does not limit themselves to one point of reference at all. Something that is overt in the music is the seamless transition between Melodic Death and Melodic Black. Connoisseurs of the style will know that in the early years of the genre there was great fluidity among both and the line that demarcated “Death Metal” and “Black Metal” was quite thin; if you don’t believe me, I urge you to re-visit not just the very early releases of Dark Tranquillity and In Flames, but a whole host of other bands such as Sacrilege, A Canorous Quintet or Fall of the Leafe to get an idea. These Black Metal overtones are best seen on display on the track ‘Across the Neverwhen’ where the vocals adopt a much shriekier nature and the furious double bass drumming would not feel out of place on a Dissection record.
More importantly, Vast Reaches Unchained captures a raw sense of energy, wonder and romanticism that made those first Melodic Death records so vivid while still firmly a “Death” Metal. There is a great sense of unison between all three band members, favoured by the relatively short length of the songs – with most songs rarely exceeding the 3-4 minute mark. If I had to choose one track that best exhibits every I’ve just talked about, it would be the glorious “Sidereal Spire”; a track that kicks off with regal guitar harmonies, furious double bass and some of the deepest vocals on the record that feel like a tribute to A Canorous Quintet. The intensity is only broken by the transition to a wonderful and soaring guitar solo that builds up to another powerful cascade of tremolo picked riffs.
As far as first efforts go, Majesties have knocked it out of the park. While we live in an era where nostalgia in music is greatly celebrated and people wish to revive the past, it feels like the mid 90s era of Melodic Death hasn’t quite gotten its due yet in the same way that for example 80s/early 90s Death Metal has. There are a multitude of reasons for this, but perhaps more fitted for another article. In the meantime, if you’re an enjoyer of the catalogue put out by Wrong Again Records, No Fashion or Invasion, this is a great time portal to that era. (Dzor)
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Featuring members of Obsequiae and Inexorum, Minnesota’s Majesties emerged with a deep appreciation for the classic Gothenburg sound that shaped melodic Death Metal during the mid ’90s. While countless bands have attempted to revisit that era, Majesties approached it with a level of understanding and authenticity that immediately set them apart. Their debut album, ‘Vast Reaches Unclaimed’, quickly established itself as one of the most talked-about melodic Death Metal releases of 2023.
Every so often an album appears that makes you wonder what could have been. If In Flames had continued developing the sound of The Jester Race rather than moving away from it, ‘Vast Reaches Unclaimed’ may well be the closest thing to a successor.
I picked this album up from Pulverised Records back in 2023 with little prior knowledge of the band. The artwork looked promising, the musicians involved had a strong pedigree, and that was enough reason to take a chance on it. Once the album started playing, I was immediately transported back to a time when melodic Death Metal was driven by memorable songwriting, strong melodies and a genuine sense of adventure.
The guitar work is the album’s greatest strength. Harmonized leads and memorable melodies run throughout the record, but they never overshadow the riffs themselves. Fans of early In Flames, Eucharist, Gates of Ishtar and Dark Tranquillity will recognise the influence immediately, yet Majesties avoid sounding like a mere tribute act. The songs feel organic, confident and, most importantly, memorable.
What impresses me most is how naturally everything comes together. Many modern bands attempting this style become trapped in nostalgia, focusing so heavily on recreating the past that the music feels lifeless. Majesties avoid that pitfall. The performances are sharp, the production strikes a balance between clarity and warmth, and the songwriting remains the focal point throughout.
Each track contributes to a cohesive whole, making ‘Vast Reaches Unclaimed’ feel like a complete listening experience rather than a collection of isolated highlights.
Three years after its release, the album still stands as one of the finest melodic Death Metal records of the decade. It doesn’t reinvent the genre, nor does it need to. Instead, it serves as a reminder of how effective melodic Death Metal can be when written with conviction, restraint and a clear understanding of what made the genre special in the first place. (Deen “Brother Darkness” Gabriel)
