Long Live the King

Description

Long Live the King is the sophomore album the by the Swedish progressive power metal band Narnia, originally released in Japan on Canyon International in December 1998, and the following year in Europe on Nuclear Blast. The album was recorded and mixed between July – September 1998 by Torbjörn Martinsson and band member Carl Johan Grimmark at Studio Berghem in Huskvarna, Sweden; and as well at Narnia Songs Mobile Recording Studio, Sweden; and was produced by Grimmark with Martinsson co-producing. All music arranged by Carl Johan Grimmark except track 3 arranged by Christian Liljegren.

Narnia is Christian Liljegren on lead and backing vocals, Carl Johan Grimmark on (6 & 12 strings) acoustic and electric guitars, bass (tracks 6 and 8), keyboards, and backing vocals, Martin Claésson on keyboards, Jakob Persson on bass, and Andreas Johansson on drums. The album also features backing vocals by Sonny Larsson of Leviticus, Motherlode, and XT fame.

You may remember Sweden’s Modest Attraction – the spoof ’70’s psychedelic revival band a la Spinal Tap – whose ’96 opus came-and went without so much as a ripple within the Christian hard-music scene. Well, Christian Liljegren (vocals) and Carljohan Grimmark (guitar) went on to form Narnia in the late ’90s; signed to Nuclear Blast, the band’s debut album ‘Awakening‘ (’98) was very well received by fans of the genre within the mainstream market. Having toured with Dio (Rainbow/Black Sabbath), Narnia return with another gem in the form of ‘Long Live The King’. Both Christian and Carljohan are joined once again by Andreas Johannson (drums), Martin Claesson (keys) and Jacob Persson (bass) to produce this winning set of well crafted and finely executed pieces of music. ‘Long Live The King’ boasts some powerful songs evoking positive emotions within the listener, whilst simultaneously sharing the life affirming truth of the Gospel of Christ with punching power chords, interspersed with inspiring solos and passages of progressive metal. Whilst any comparisons with other bands may be misleading at best, for those unfamiliar with this Swedish five-piece their sound is reminiscent of both Asia and Deep Purple, though it would be a mistake to label them clones of either. Refreshingly original, it is good to hear that Narnia are going from strength to strength. [Alex Figgis, Cross Rhythms, June 1999]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/long-live-the-king-remastered-20th-anniversary-edition/1466820864)

CD tracklist:

01. Gates Of Cair Paravel (Introduction)
02. Living Water
03. Shelter Through The Pain
04. The Mission
05. What You Give Is What You Get
06. The Lost Son
07. Long Live The King
08. Dangerous Game
09. Star Over Bethlehem
10. Shadowlands (Outro)

Note: Released on both cassette and CD. (The Canyon International edition features “Can’t Get Enough Of You” which was replaced by “Star Over Bethlehem” on the Nuclear Blast edition.) Available at Bandcamp: https://narnia.bandcamp.com/album/long-live-the-king-20th-anniversary-edition

---