Majestica: The perfect Christmas soundtrack

One thing that has always intrigued me in music is when there is harmony between what a band plays and the theme of the song. VISIONS OF ATLANTIS talking about pirates while sounding piratey, or RHAPSODY crafting fantastical worlds supported by their orchestral foundation. That’s why “A Christmas Carol” by MAJESTICA is, to me, one of the most unique concept albums out there. And with December being the Christmas month, I think it deserves the spotlight. Just to be clear, MAJESTICA may be a band that composes happy and uplifting music, but Christmas is not their general niche of a topic, only this record is dedicated to it.

The premise: 

It is very clear that the concept here is the “A Christmas Carol” novel by Charles Dickens. Ebenezer Scrooge is a very rich man who loves nothing more than money, who also happens to dislike Christmas. He refuses to help the poor or pay his employees fairly, resulting in him not being really loved by anyone. On a Christmas day he is visited by the ghost of an old business partner of his (Marley) who has died. He is cursed to aimlessly wander the earth while bound in chains, as a consequence of his greedy life, a fate that Scrooge can still avoid if he changes his habits. Later, three spirits visit Ebenezer and show him Christmas visions of the Past, Present and Future, leaving him with the choice of being a better man, or suffering a fate similar to Marley’s. After seeing how no one will truly miss him after his death, Scrooge awakens a changed man and begins making amends. The story ultimately embodies the true spirit of Christmas.

The music:

This is Melodic Power Metal that perfectly captures the atmosphere of the story, woven together with phenomenal vocal work. To call it theatrical is an understatement. It incorporates well-known Christmas melodies that you will recognize in a flash and there are many sounds, effects and spoken parts that flesh out the final result in a remarkable way. In the borders of Power Metal, I wouldn’t say it surpasses their latest album “Power train” which is more of a classic work within the genre. The concept makes “A Christmas Carol” more melodic than some listeners might prefer, but its uniqueness makes it my favorite album of theirs. Also, did I mention that Tommy delivers an absolutely wonderful vocal performance? Since you can listen to it, there is no point in dragging this segment out.

If you are already a fan of this record then this article serves more of a reminder so that you can give it another go. If not, then take this opportunity to dive into the musical magic of “A Christmas Carol”. It is the absolute best metal soundtrack for people who enjoy the warm and joyful side of the holiday, but still want to blast some heavy music.

Pavlos Pavlakis