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.