MYSTIC PROPHECY – Monuments Uncovered (2018)

German metallers MYSTIC PROPHECY will release a covers album, “Monuments Uncovered“, on January 12, 2018. This album is like a love letter to the music that accompanied so many of us in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s — ranging from Billy Squier to Donna Summer and Elton John, done in a ‘metal’ way.

Honestly, I am not fan of MYSTIC PROPHECY. The band has been together for many years and they are really good musicians, but I found their heavy metal / power albums a bit pedestrian, particularly the songwriting.
Well, “Monuments Uncovered” is a different beast, and I like it a lot.
All songs chosen to cover here are – more or less – classics, and the result is really, really cool and entertaining.

Check the full track listing below, a rather diverse selection of artists from The Supremes to Lenny Kravitz, Creedence Clearwater Revival to Patti Smith. We’ll highlight some of the best and the, well, maybe not so great ones.
‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’ is one of my favorite Motown songs, yet I’ve always preferred the Vanilla Fudge version, more groovy. Mystic Prophecy does this song very well, especially getting the vocal arrangement in proper register. Another fine rendition is the cover of Lenny Kravitz’s ‘Are You Gonna Go My Way’. Kravitz has somewhat of a rocking heart, so Mystic Prophecy giving it the metal twist fits.

They also do a fine job with Patti Smith’s ‘Because The Night’, especially with the acoustic guitar opening which establishes the melody. Also, vocalist Liapakis gets the soulful urgency of the lyrics and chorus.
I always thought Creedence Clearwater Revival could get the heavy metal treatment, especially Run Through The Jungle and Fortunate Son. Mystic Prophecy does a blistering version of ‘Proud Mary’.
Oh, and the metalized ‘Hot Stuff’ (Donna Summer Cover) is foot-tapping fun.

Similarly, Billy Squier’s classic ‘The Stroke’ gets the metal treatment, where that familiar beat, groove, and chorus get Mystic Prophecy’s razor sharp riff attack.
The same could be said for T.Rex’s ‘Get It On’. You have to get the beat, groove and chorus right, or you’ll muff it. Mystic Prophecy nails it, metal-style.
Elton John’s ‘I’m Still Standing’ is ok, merely because it’s really hard to get Elton’s soulful vocal presence. Monster Magnet’s ‘Space Lord’ seems an odd choice, sounded like, well, Monster Magnet just getting a bit sharper in the latter half.

All in All, with a few exceptions, I enjoyed Mystic Prophecy’s heavy metal take on some classic rock&pop songs. “Monuments Uncovered” is both interesting and entertaining, cool stuff (love the artwork too).
I think it’s time to Mystic Prophecy to get some external songwriters for the next studio album, because as heard here, all they need is good songs, in the skills / performance section they are very, very good.
Strongly Recommended

01 – You Keep Me Hangin’ On (The Supremes/Vanilla Fudge Cover)
02 – Hot Stuff (Donna Summer Cover)
03 – Shadow On The Wall (Mike Oldfield Cover)
04 – Are You Gonna Go My Way (Lenny Kravitz Cover)
05 – I’m Still Standing (Elton John Cover)
06 – Because The Night (Patti Smith Cover)
07 – Space Lord (Monster Magnet Cover)
08 – Get It On (T.Rex Cover)
09 – Toyko (Tokyo Cover)
10 – Proud Mary (Creedence Clearwater Revival Cover)
11 – The Stroke (Billy Squier Cover)

Roberto Dimitri Liapakis – Vocals
Markus Pohl – Guitars (rhythm)
Joey Roxx – Bass
Hanno Kerstan – Drums
Evan K – Guitars (lead)

PRE ORDER:
www.amazon.de/Monuments-Uncovered-Ltd-Digipak-Mystic-Prophecy/dp/B076YD39F7
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