Text by Luis Fernando Ribeiro and Leandro Abrantes
Signum Regis is a Slovak melodic/neoclassical metal band formed in 2007 in the city of Senec by bassist and composer Ronnie König , who, along with guitarist Filip Koluš and keyboardist Ján Tupý, forms the trio of musicians remaining from the band's original lineup. Currently, the band is gaining increasing recognition in Brazil and South America, especially due to the presence of Brazilian Jota Fortinho as the group's vocalist.
With nearly 15 years on the road, Signum Regis has in its vast discography no less than 6 full-length and 3 EPs, in addition to several singles and music videos released throughout all these years.
Learn more about each of these nine official studio recordings by the band:
Signum Regis (2008)
Released in 2008, Signum Regis' self-titled debut album featured renowned vocalist Göran Edman (ex- Yngwie Malmsteen , John Norum ), as well as Ado Kaláber on second guitar and Luděk Struhař on drums, achieving excellent reception worldwide, including in the competitive Japanese market, where it was released by Avalon/Marquee Records. The album already showcased the characteristic elements that would become the cornerstones of the band throughout its trajectory, such as its encouraging and powerful lyrics, vibrant and intense arrangements, and consistently exciting choruses. The album stands out for its solidity, the maturity of a band in its very first recording, and its consistency, not presenting any below-average moments, a result that would solidify into a long career full of great moments.
Highlights: “All Over The World” and “Bright Days Of Glory”
The Eyes of Power (2010)
In 2010, Signum Regis signed with Inner Wound Recordings and released the grandiose concept album *The Eyes Of Power *, which was very well received by the public and critics, especially in Europe. From this album onwards, it became quite evident that Signum Regis had found its niche and reached maturity within the melodic/neoclassical metal scene. Moving away somewhat from the characteristics common to bands like Symphony X , quite present in their first album, they began to create a very strong and evident personality, giving less complexity and more purpose to each of their compositions, as well as more melody and speed, resulting in even more powerful and explosive songs, moving in a more melodic direction than their previous progressive tendencies. For this album, the only change made to the band's lineup was Adrián Ciel taking over on drums.
Highlights: “Dura Europos”, “One Fatal Enterprise” and “The Underground Temple”
Exodus (2013)
Signum Regis ' third album , Exodus , was released in 2013 and featured many different vocalists, including Göran Edman , as well as Lance King (ex- Pyramaze , Balance of Power ), Matt Smith ( Theocracy ), Michael Vescera ( Obsession ), Daísa Munhoz ( Vandroya , Soulspell ), among others, showcasing a rather daring band, even while remaining true to their original concept. In this album, the melodic metal elements are even more evident than in previous albums, but the classic Signum Regis remained, resulting in some of the greatest classics of the band's already established career, such as "The Ten Plagues" and "The Promised Land". The lack of a main vocalist could have made the tracks sound disjointed and with large highs and lows, but this doesn't happen, especially due to the experience and synergy of the band's three main musicians. The album only loses a little in sounding less organic, but it makes up for it in the diversity of its themes.
Highlights: “The Ten Plagues” and “Song of Deliverance”
Through The Storm (EP-2015)
In early 2014, Mayo Petranin , who had already recorded and performed some shows with the band in Slovakia, the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland, officially became the vocalist for Signum Regis in a completely natural process. In addition to him, drummer Jaro Jančula completed the band's lineup. During 2014, Signum Regis began working on new material, resulting in the EP *Through The Storm* , released in May 2015 and, to date, their heaviest record. Mayo Petranin sounds less melodic than the vocalists who previously worked with the band, and this is reflected in a more direct and aggressive sound, but one that still manages to sound grand and epic in its own way, resulting in an album that could sound out of place in the band's discography, but ends up being so enjoyable to listen to that it establishes itself as one of the band's most pleasant albums. It's worth highlighting how the band doesn't adhere to genre clichés, allowing themselves to sound exactly as they want, creating absolutely honest compositions.
Highlights: “Living Well”, “My Guide In The Night” and “Through the Desert, Through the Storm”
Chapter IV: The Reckoning (2015)
With their lineup stabilized and all the rough edges smoothed out since the release of * Through The Storm * in the fall of 2015, Signum Regis released their most definitive album, establishing them as a fully consolidated and highly relevant band, reaching new audiences. The band had reached the peak of their maturity, solidifying their sound from all the elements they had explored in previous albums. There isn't a standout track among the songs, but the album sounds absolutely enjoyable from beginning to end, from the beautiful cover art to the final breath of the beautiful "Bells Are Tolling". * Chapter IV: The Reckoning* may not be their best, but it is definitely the most balanced album of the band's career.
Highlights: “The Voice in the Wilderness” and “When Freedom Fails”
Decennium Primum (2017)
Maintaining the lineup from their two previous albums, in 2015 Signum Regis participated in a band competition, winning among 400 other bands. With the prize money, they were able to record their next album, *Decennium Primum* , released in 2017, which features what is perhaps the band's most popular song, "Unfold the Mystery." This album clearly showcases some traditional metal elements, somewhat unusual in the band's discography, but which greatly enhance the compositions, making them even more vibrant and exciting – two of the main characteristics of Signum Regis . At this point, it's worth highlighting how respectable Signum Regis ; while it may not produce any great heavy metal classics, it doesn't have a single song that could be criticized for lacking creativity or meticulous composition.
Highlights: “Unfold the Mystery” and “Train To Neverland”
Addendum Primum (EP-2017)
The EP Addendum Primum Mayo Petranin 's last recording as the band's frontman, featuring four songs, among which "Tune of War" stands out, which would later be re-recorded on the band's most recent EP, "Flag of Hope".
Highlight: “Tune of War”
The Seal of a New World (2019)
In 2018, Signum Regis parted ways with vocalist Mayo Petranin amicably, even completing their scheduled shows after the official separation. From then on, the band began searching for a new vocalist. Guitarist Filip Koluš conducted extensive research on YouTube and compiled a list of potential candidates. At the top of the list was Brazilian vocalist Jota Fortinho , who sang impressive covers of famous bands and possessed vast experience as a heavy metal vocalist. Jota showed immediate interest in the band and, after a relatively short trial period, during which he Signum Regis 's key songs , he quickly became the band's new permanent vocalist.
In a way, there was a kind of return to their roots, since Jota has as wide a range as Göran Edman and is capable of singing complex and demanding vocal lines, but on the other hand, the band explored new sounds and new elements, in search of a new sound. The end result of this process was the 12 songs chosen and recorded for the band's new album, The Seal of a New World , released in November 2019 by Beyond The Storm Productions. The album was mixed by Ronnie König and mastered by the renowned Jacob Hansen , presenting a sound quite characteristic of the band, but sounding more organic and dynamic than ever. Soon after the release, Signum Regis gave some live performances and, unable to perform live shows due to the coronavirus pandemic, the band began to focus on studio activities again.
Highlights: “Kings of the Underground” and “Prisoner's Elegy”
Flag Of Hope (EP-2020)
In 2020, musician Majo Sucháň took over the band's second guitar duties, and in the winter of the same year, Signum Regis released the EP Flag Of Hope *, accompanied by a grand music video full of very special guest appearances. For the "Flag of Hope" music video, the band featured the illustrious participation of their two former vocalists, Göran Edman ( Yngwie Malmsteen ) and Mayo Petranin ( Castaway , Symphonity ), as well as renowned musicians André "Zaza" Hernandes ( Capella , ex- André Matos band , ex- Angra ), Matt Smith ( Theocracy ), Samuel Nyman ( Manimal ), and David Åkesson ( Qantice ). In addition to the music video, the EP features other excellent tracks such as reinterpretations of "Given Up For Lost" and "Tune of War," the previously unreleased "Voyage to the Distant Shores," a beautiful version of Angra's "Stand Away," and an instrumental version of "Ave Maria."
Highlights: “Given Up For Lost” and “Flag of Hope”
You can also check out all of Signum Regis available through the band's YouTube channel or via the link below:
