Studio album “DYSTOPIA PART 1” was released on December 16th, 2020 via King Records (Japan/SE Asia) and on January 15th via NorthPoint Productions (Europe/N & S America). A concept album offering a considerable expansion of the band´s trademark sound and featuring performances by guest vocalists: Mats Leven (Candlemass, TSO, Skyblood), Mark Boals (Y.J. Malmsteen, Ring of Fire), Henrik Brockmann (Royal Hunt, Evil Masquerade, N´Tribe), Kenny Lubcke (Narita, Zoser Mez) and Alexandra Andersen (Royal Hunt, JSP).

“Dystopia” is available on ALL digital platforms (as MP3, FLAC), and as a regular CD (jewel case), various deluxe editions / bundles and a double heavy vinyl LP here.

ROYAL HUNT keep intriguing fans with their adventurous endeavors and the band´s 15th studio album is no exception: a monumental concept opus featuring symphonic, progressive yet hard hitting compositions full of impeccable performances, wrapped tightly into immediately accessible format and a lush, contemporary production.

The addition of some extraordinary guest singers and their outstanding performances combined with vastly extended orchestrations creates a truly conceptual, cinematic feel throughout each and every track.

Tracklist:

INCEPTION ℉451 – BURN – THE ART OF DYING – I USED TO WALK ALONE – THE EYE OF OBLIVION – HOUND OF THE DAMNED – THE MISSING PAGE (Intermission I) – BLACK BUTTERFLIES – SNAKE EYES – MIDWAY (Intermission II)

“…In a world where a virus has destroyed lives and living in what could possibly be series one in the pandemic box set we get a Concept Album of massive proportions which is easily one of the Albums of the year here at @The Metal Gods Meltdown, this is a killer release that bewitches and delivers on all fronts. Get some “Dystopia” in your life, it’s the cure to the world’s ills!” – Seb Di Gatto // The Metal Gods Metldown – Score: 10/10

“…Ray Bradbury’s classic dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 gets a symphonic power metal adaptation in this rock opera from Royal Hunt. It’s a huge, full sound with keyboards/synths driving the songs, powerful soaring vocals and high screams, metal riffing and soloing, heavy drumming and a bass that brings extra melodic lines as well as solid pounding rhythms. It’s an expressive and theatrical, as catchy as pop music yet full-on powerful metal. There are also a number of guest musicians contributing vocals to add character. Opener Inception F451 has a full orchestral sound, dramatic and intense that builds to a crescendo to segue into the riffing guitar intro of Burn where synths add new themes that capture the spirit of the books opening line, “It was a pleasure to burn.” The mood turns darker with elements of doom in The Art Of Dying, a reflective rocker with a fast and furious finale. The pace slows for duet I Used To Walk Alone, a piece of gentle piano and strings that swells in energy into a big chorus that screams “full cast stage production on Broadway NOW!”… ” – Darren Iliffe // Underground Rock and Metal review – Book by Enough? Magazine.