Signum Regis: Undivided | With Several Stories And Something More
(2023 – Ulterium Records)
There are so many bands within the European Power Metal genre that it is sometimes difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff, and then there is Signum Regis, who, thanks to their personality, originality, and seriousness in approaching each project, deserve an important place on the scene.
It’s true, “Undivided” has been out for a while, but we wanted to wait for the right moment to review it, as we preferred to publish the review of “The Eyes Of Power,” released this year. Well, it’s time to talk about this latest album, since the reissue of “The Eyes Of Power” was, strictly speaking, a reissue of their first album. That leaves “Undivided” as the latest album released by the guys from Slovakia.
Let’s start with the basics: Signum Regis is a band that could be described as melodic, classic power metal with an epic intent, where each song is a story that the band conveys with a certain majesty. The band has developed its own personality and is sufficiently original, although of course, with influences that could range from Helloween, Hammerfall, Gamma Ray, etc.
Another of Signum Regis’ strengths, and in particular “Undivided,” is its journey through songs that do not repeat themselves, taking the risks inherent in retracing different paths to achieve a more than optimal result. And yes, we couldn’t leave out the thousand stories that Signum Regis tells you through its songs, which, incidentally, do not constitute a unit or a concept album in this case (as in the case of “The Eyes Of Power”), but rather turn out to be indistinct biblical stories with perceptions from the present day, which makes the subject more than interesting.
Thus, in “Daniel’s Prophecy,” the first track, we find a song that goes well from the beginning and has a certain oriental influence in some of its melodies, and the classic choruses that characterize the Power Metal genre, but it is in “Ministry Of Truth” where Signum Regis reaches one of the high points of this album, in a song that is much closer to more traditional Heavy Metal.
What follows with “Salt Of The Earth” is a riff that makes it interesting, but what stands out most is its melody, with classic riffs and harmonious choruses, and the classic foundations are also present in “Interpreter Of Dreams,” where majesty takes over most of the song. On the other hand, “Pilgrim Road” is where we get our closest look at Signum Regis; their intricate heavy foundation with classical touches and strident choruses, at their own pace, is what stands out most about the band, and this is where they are at their best, in their own element, so to speak.
“Servants Of The Fallen One” sounds like a beautiful ballad set to the rhythm of heavy/power metal with excellent melodies and harmonies, but in “Sea Of Galilee,” the Slovaks seem to lean more towards heavy metal with harder riffs but with the difficult task of staying on melody, resulting in an intricate song that is difficult to define at times.
The most classic Power Metal is present in “Prepare For War,” and in the title track of this album (“Undivided”) we can hear a strong, sustained base and an intention that leans more towards the progressive side of things but with the choruses that characterize Signum Regis so much.
The difference in “Undivided” was saved for the end. “Shield My Soul” is an epic piece, with a slow start and a development with all the strength and power that Signum Regis possesses in its musical essence, but in the case of the CD in question, it is not the end either, as there is an extra track, reserved as a bonus track, which turns out to be “Live Free Or Die,” which is only found in this format, as the vinyl version does not have this track.
With “Undivided,” Signum Regis demonstrates a certain degree of musical maturity and firmness in their own style. They are not a blurred clone of other bands, and they affirm this once again with this album. Influences are everywhere, and it can even be a healthy exercise to discover them, but the truth is that Signum Regis deepens its own personality with compositions that, although sometimes not entirely effective, give their music its own unique stamp.
The sound of “Undivided” is neither pretentious nor superlative, but we believe that what we hear is more than perfect. The good thing is that the mix and the final sound allow each instrument to be appreciated fairly: the guitars, the bass lines, and above all, the keyboards do not drown out the rest but function more as an orchestral accompaniment, which in these cases works very well.
One of the best things Signum Regis always shows is the artistry of their album covers, and “Undivided” is no exception. Uwe Jahrling is once again in charge of the image and art for the entire album, and believe me, with these impressive covers, Signum Regis’ albums are highly desirable. Of course, then there’s the music, which, as you may have read, is not to be sneezed at, but it’s fair to say that the entire design of the inner sleeve, cover, etc., is of such incredible quality that it largely justifies purchasing the physical format.
Of course, “Undivided” was not only released on CD, but also on vinyl, although in the latter case the track list is different (I guess due to space limitations) and “Live Free Or Die” is missing, as we mentioned earlier.
Signum Regis is playing hardball. After “Undivided,” they set out to re-release their album “The Eyes Of Power” in 2025. Will there be new material in 2026? Will they raise the stakes? In the meantime, “Undivided” is one of those risky bets, and the result is there for all to see, or rather, for all to hear.
Here is one of the official music videos released by the band to promote this album. It is for the song “Ministry Of Truth,” undoubtedly the best on the album. And, of course, here are the links to find Signum Regis on social media…
https://www.facebook.com/SignumRegis
https://www.instagram.com/signumregis
