This is the second part and the conclusion to the Once And Future King project, masterminded by Gary Hughes of Ten fame. I'm not really sure why this wasn't released as a cheaper 2 CD package but regardless, both of these albums are well worth the investment. Part 2 picks up pretty much where Part 1 left off and by and large is the same sort of album. The continuing saga of the legends of King Arthur is played out in 12 tracks that all blend very well together and take the listener on a ride back in time to the era in all it's majesty and glory. Lots of guest vocalists are once again involved with each one bringing their "A" voice to the sessions and delivering the best and most emotional performances possible. Helping out musically once again are Gary's fellow Ten bandmates and Arjen Anthony Lucassen (Ayreon, Star One).

This album, like Part 1 is a mix of melodic hard rock with some metal influences, power ballads and dreamy melodic pop rock, all playing an important role in telling the tale. It's a tale about the quest for power, honor, divided loyalties, treachery, deceit and what lengths one will go to in order the claim the "divine" right to be king. Kill The King kicks the album into high gear quite quickly and is a great orchestrated power metal track with D.C Cooper (Silent Force) on lead vocals. It's a heavy and anthemic track with charging rhythms, a solid chorus and is a great album opener. There By The Grace Of God and I Still Love You (I Still Do) are the only 2 tracks to actually feature Gary Hughes on lead vocals, with the former being a great atmospheric song with catchy riffing from a very solid guitar sound. Great soaring leads and a slower heavy groove, together with a great chorus with some very "evil' sounding backing vocals round out the track. I Still Love You (I Still Do), is an almost too sweet and syrupy love ballad but the vocals are great, the guitar work excellent and it does get heavier in sections, giving it a more of a power ballad style. Lana Lane makes an appearance on this album as well with the song, Oceans Of Tears. I don't think I've ever heard her voice sound so good. It's a quieter track with a great energetic chorus featuring lots of backing voices all rounded off by some great expressive lead guitar. Irene Jansen (Karma) makes a return appearance as well on the track Rise From The Shadows. It's a faster power metal track with big booming riffs and another solid chorus. Believe Enough To Fight, featuring vocal duets between Bob Catley and Sabine Edelsbacher (Edenbridge), succeeds in creating a great atmosphere with it's use of acoustic guitar and keyboard orchestration, all building to a big heavier sound for the chorus. Sabine also adds her voice to the track The Pagan Dream, a more epic and orchestrated song that has heavier elements throughout. Doogie White (Cornerstone, Yngwie Malmsteen) makes an appearance on Demon Down, a driving and heavier track and The Hard Way, a jazzier styled track that has great feel and catchiness to it. Without question, the last two tracks Without You and Once And Future King are 2 of the highlights of not just this album, but of the whole project itself. Without You is a great heart-wrenching and reflective track that gets heavier for the chorus and features Sean Harris (Diamond Head) on vocals and Once And Future King, is more of a personal soliloquy with just piano, voice and keyboard orchestrations. With lead vocals provided by Harry Hess (Harem Scarem), the track is an emotion filled epic that has a great vocal performance and a soaring chorus. The track gets heavier with some great lead soloing and is an excellent ending to not only part 2 of the story, but to the whole saga.

Gary Hughes has succeeded once again in putting together a collection of songs that collectively tell the tale that took place so long ago. Individually, each song could stand on it's own but together, they produce an amazing listening experience. There are elements about Part 2 that I like more than Part 1 and vice versa but taken together, you have a concept album package that rivals any that I've ever heard before. The soaring emotion that pours out of each and every track, whether it be a faster metal song or a slower ballad style, is something rarely heard to this degree. This is certainly testament to Gary Hughes' songwriting talents and the fact that he seems to have chosen the perfect vocalists to bring the story to life. It almost seems that he wrote the songs with each one in mind. Another stunning album from Gary and if you like Once And Future King Part 1, you'll like this one too. If you haven't heard either of them, pick them both up, you won't find a better collection of great, diverse songs, all with an underlying theme, that grabs the listener like Gary's musical journey through the Once And Future King saga. Great songs, great production and a cast of some of the best voices in the business, all combine to produce a masterpiece of melodic hard rock. This 2 CD concept will almost certainly be in my top 10 for 2003!!