Royal Hunt--The Watchers

Royal Hunt--The Watchers (2002/Century Media) Rating--7.6

A hodge-podge collection of tracks from the band, as there are four live tracks, four "new versions" of tracks, and two versions of the song "Intervention"--a 14-plus minute full presentation, and a much shorter radio edit. The live songs are tight and technically flawless, which is a plus, but on the negative side is that there isn't much of a "live" feel at all. After the initial pre-song crowd noise, you don't hear much of anything from them again. No singing along, etc. A bit strange, considering the European's (and Asian's) penchant for great live audiences. Perhaps it's just the mixing-- but why mix-out the crowd, if it's a live track? Oh well.
The live versions of "Lies" and "Flight" are the best of the bunch, while "One by One" is strong as well.
TRACK LIST: Intervention (full version)/Lies (live)/Flight (live)/Message to God (live)/Epilogue (live)/One by One (new version)/Clown in the Mirror (new version)/Day in Day Out (new version)/Legion of the Damned (new version)/Intervention (radio edit)

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