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It's been a while since I heard anything from D.C. Cooper, so I was happy to see Royal Hunt's Dystopia - Part II show up in my review queue. I missed the first Dystopia album so I can't speak to how similar this one is to its predecessor but, overall, it sounds a lot like Royal Hunt, so the answer is probably "very similar." What surprised me is the number of guest singers, most taking lead vocals, this album features. The effect is one of a darker (as the title would portend) Avantasia. There are some great power metal melodies throughout the album with songs like "Live Another Day" being particularly majestic and cinematic and giving Cooper the opportunity to show that he can still craft a vocal line with the best of them. I like the keyboard effects on the instrumental closer "Resurrection F451" in particular. They sound almost like a French horn and if you've listened to Quadrophenia from The Who, you'll appreciate how that instrument can lend an air of pomp to a song. There are no weak tracks but nothing I'd call a signature piece either, so it is a well-played example of modern power metal that stays safely within the confines of the genre. It should be a solid addition to the power metal fan's collection.