Historical, Intricate and Imaginative

Munroe’s Thunder’s newly released album The Black Watch is a journey back in time to the medieval era. The album, which has been 6 years in the making, alludes to the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. The entirety of the soundtrack reminisces war, as each song speaks of an ongoing battle. The instruments even imitate the sounds of battle, such as hooves pounding the ground, fires burning and explosions.

The album opens with the song “Battle Cry,” which sounds like the beginning of battle, as there is a solo bagpipe playing as if signaling a charge into war. The lyrics of the following songs make it clear that this is a story of a medieval-times battle by including lyrics like, “The drawbridge is closing, the castle is burning, we must save our queen!”

Though this album contains many historical references, it has a modern quality to it, with the use of what sounds like ‘80s synthesizers. The use of the synthesizers and other electronic sounds give it a feeling of a medieval video game. The album is full of lengthy and intricate guitar solos that possess an almost impossibly fast tempo. Interestingly, the guitar sounds like it is being played like a war horn in each song. Along with the rest of the imaginative instrumentation we also hear a lute being played and what sounds like a woman singing a renaissance-style lament.

Each song contains screeching vocals that follow a dissonant harmony. In the song “Dead Man’s War,” it sounds like there may be three different songs woven into one, with a number of tempo and rhythm changes. In “Thirty Years War,” we hear the piano for the first and last time throughout the entire album. The piano opens this song with a haunting solo that captures the sorrow of battle. The final song, “The Executioner,” begins with an intro that reminiscent of Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters.” The intro of this particular song is also accompanied by sounds of thunder and rain, as the album comes to an end.

This album is incredibly imaginative and creative. The pulsing drum beats and impressive guitar riffs give the music its heart-racing quality. Fans of heavy metal and renaissance fairs will certainly appreciate this album and all its elements. The amount of time and thought that went into this album is evident in every song, and is sure to excite fans with its story and, of course, its music.