MORGANA LEFAY

Power Metal • Sweden
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Originating from 2 Swedish metal bands ,1986 formed Damage's lineup with 85' former Sepher Jezirah vocalist, replacing the second guitarist, the band changed their name to "Morgana Lefay" before releasing a self-financed album named "Symphony Of The Damned" in 1989 with glowing reviews and responses. The second release dubbed "Rumours Of Rain" in 1991 was a demo tape of convincing quality, which got them a contract at the Black Mark label, in 1993 releasing "Knowing Just as I" album , echoing worldwide, followed by a european tour.After another second guitarist replacement, a third 1995 "Sanctified" album is released. Taking a festival like European tour with, Tad Morose, Memento Mori & Cemetery, and another one with Gamma Ray later that year. Releasing 1996 "Maleficium" & 1997 compilation "Fata Morgana", changing their name to Lefay for legal reasons concerning a dispute with the label; signing for Noise Records and releasing read more...
Thanks to diamondblack, UMUR for the updates

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MORGANA LEFAY Discography

MORGANA LEFAY albums / top albums

MORGANA LEFAY Symphony of the Damned album cover 3.50 | 2 ratings
Symphony of the Damned
Power Metal 1990
MORGANA LEFAY Knowing Just as I album cover 3.58 | 2 ratings
Knowing Just as I
Power Metal 1993
MORGANA LEFAY The Secret Doctrine album cover 4.00 | 3 ratings
The Secret Doctrine
Power Metal 1993
MORGANA LEFAY Sanctified album cover 4.00 | 4 ratings
Sanctified
Power Metal 1995
MORGANA LEFAY Maleficium album cover 4.21 | 7 ratings
Maleficium
Power Metal 1996
MORGANA LEFAY Morgana Lefay album cover 2.00 | 1 ratings
Morgana Lefay
Power Metal 1999
MORGANA LEFAY Grand Materia album cover 4.25 | 2 ratings
Grand Materia
Power Metal 2005
MORGANA LEFAY Aberrations of the Mind album cover 4.00 | 2 ratings
Aberrations of the Mind
Power Metal 2007

MORGANA LEFAY EPs & splits

MORGANA LEFAY Welcome to the Black Mark Festivals '95 album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Welcome to the Black Mark Festivals '95
Power Metal 1995

MORGANA LEFAY live albums

MORGANA LEFAY demos, promos, fans club and other releases (no bootlegs)

MORGANA LEFAY Rumours of Rain album cover 3.00 | 1 ratings
Rumours of Rain
Power Metal 1992

MORGANA LEFAY re-issues & compilations

MORGANA LEFAY Past Present Future album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Past Present Future
Power Metal 1995
MORGANA LEFAY Fata Morgana album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
Fata Morgana
Power Metal 1998

MORGANA LEFAY singles (2)

.. Album Cover
0.00 | 0 ratings
Sculptures of Pain
Power Metal 1995
.. Album Cover
0.00 | 0 ratings
Over and Over Again
Power Metal 2007

MORGANA LEFAY movies (DVD, Blu-Ray or VHS)

MORGANA LEFAY Reviews

MORGANA LEFAY Knowing Just as I

Album · 1993 · Power Metal
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UMUR
"Knowing Just as I" is the second full-length studio album by Swedish power metal act Morgana Lefay. The album was released through Black Mark Production in March 1993. It´s the successor to "Symphony Of The Damned" from 1990, but the two full-length studio albums are actually bridged by the 1992 demo album "Rumours of Rain". Morgana Lefay had a hard time securing a recording contract, and they had to self-finance the recording and release of "Symphony Of The Damned (1990)". When that didn´t result in a label contract, they recorded the demo album "Rumours of Rain (1992)", which finally secured them a contract with Black Mark Production. All 9 tracks from "Rumours of Rain (1992)" were re-recorded and included on "Knowing Just as I" (in a different tracklist order), so the only new track here is the short title track, which closes the album.

Stylistically the material on "Knowing Just as I" are a continuation of the US power metal influenced style of "Symphony Of The Damned" (1990). Morgana Lefay are strongly influenced by the most heavy part of Savatage´s discography, and lead vocalist Charles Rytkönen has a voice and singing style not too far removed from the voice and singing style of Jon Oliva (Savatage, Doctor Butcher, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Jon Oliva´s Pain). Sharp heavy metal riffs which sometimes borders thrash metal riffing (actually not that often), blistering guitar solos, and a powerful and well playing rhythm section. Morgana Lefay arguably deliver the power metal goods.

The material are well written, powerful, and memorable, and "Knowing Just as I" also features a relatively well sounding production. It could have been more powerful and the details of the music could have been more clearly audible in the mix, but the sound production is decent enough and suits the material well. Upon conclusion "Knowing Just as I" isn´t a giant leap forward from "Symphony Of The Damned" (1990), but more a continuation of the style and quality of the debut album. Which means that it´s a solid (but not spectacular) US power metal influenced album. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

MORGANA LEFAY Rumours of Rain

Demo · 1992 · Power Metal
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UMUR
"Rumours of Rain" is a demo album release by Swedish power metal act B>Morgana Lefay. The demo was independently released in 1992. Morgana Lefay formed in 1989 and self-financed and independently released their debut full-length studio album "Symphony Of The Damned" in 1990. The release of the debut album didn´t lead to a label deal though, hence the recording of "Rumours of Rain", which was released to promote Morgana Lefay and secure them a record contract, which it eventually did, as they signed with Black Mark Production shortly after the release of "Rumours of Rain".

Stylistically the material on "Rumours of Rain" is a natural continuation of the US influenced power metal style of "Symphony Of The Damned" (1990). Savatage is the most obvious influence, and lead vocalist Charles Rytkönen has a voice and delivery similar to the voice and delivery of Jon Oliva. Not the worst singer to be compared to. Needless to say that the vocal part of the music is one of the great assets of the band´s sound. Morgana Lefay are a very well playing band too, and the instrumental part of the music is delivered with great skill and passion. Powerful heavy rhythms, sharp heavy riffs, blistering solos and harmonies, and the occassional use of keyboards for atmosphere enhancement.

The material is generally well written and powerful US power metal and every track on the album is worth a listen. The cover of "Razamanaz" by Nazareth is decent too. "Modern Devil" features a couple of semi-thrashy riffs, but other than that this is just heavy and dark US power metal. All tracks from the demo would be re-recorded and included on Morgana Lefay´s second full-length studio album "Knowing Just as I" from 1993, so there is high level songwriting quality here.

"Rumours of Rain" is a demo release though, and it´s audible in terms of the sound quality. My guess is that most of the instrumental tracks were recorded live in the studio, and only vocals (at least the backing, harmony, and choirs vocal parts) and maybe lead guitars and keyboards were overdubbed. You can hear what´s going on in the mix, but "Rumours of Rain" is not a particularly well sounding release. The unpolished demo production thankfully doesn´t disguise the fact that there are some great tracks on the demo. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

MORGANA LEFAY Symphony of the Damned

Album · 1990 · Power Metal
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UMUR
"Symphony Of The Damned" is the debut full-length studio album by Swedish power metal act Morgana Lefay. The album was released in March 1990 and was originally a self-financed and self-released affair. During the time the band temporarily changed their name to Lefay in the period 1997-2004, they re-recorded and re-released the full album under the Lefay monicker. Now there are typically three reasons for re-recording an album in its entirety, and those reasons are that the original album had poor sound or recording quality (or even bad musicianhip), the band have not and still don´t earn a penny from the sales of the original album because of a bad recording contract, or the album has been out of print for a number of years, and no decent quality master exists to create a re-release from.

In the case of "Symphony Of The Damned" my guess would be the latter option, because there is certainly nothing wrong with the sound quality nor the quality of the musicianship on this original version of the album. In fact this is a very well sounding release performed by a skilled crew of musicians, who are also clever composers.

Stylistically the material on "Symphony Of The Damned" is predominantly dark and heavy power metal with a skilled and passionate vocalist in front (Charles Rytkönen). It´s still melodic and epic like most power metal is, but it´s definitely in the heavier end of the scale for a power metal release (think of 80s Candlemass in a power metal version or the most dark and edgy Savatage and you´re halfway there), featuring some pretty sharp and heavy riffs and rhythms. There are a couple of exceptions in "Tequila", which is a hard rock/heavy rock oriented heavy metal track, and "War Without End" which is full-blown thrash metal. The former isn´t the most well chosen track for the tracklist and it does disrupt the atmosphere and flow of the album, while the latter is at least a little closer in style to the dark and heavy power metal sound of the rest of the material.

Charles Rytkönen has already been mentioned for his great and convincing vocal performance (I´m often reminded of Jon Oliva from Savatage), but "Symphony Of The Damned" is loaded with great musical performances. Killer riffs, clever lead guitar work, and varied and powerful drumming. So upon conclusion "Symphony Of The Damned" is a quality debut release by Morgana Lefay. The slightly inconsistent songwriting is a minor issue, but on the other hand the album feautures high quality material like "Whore of Babylon" and the title track, so it´s hard not to be impressed by what you´re listening to. A big 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

MORGANA LEFAY Movies Reviews

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