On disc: Dreamland

 
 Eye For An Eye
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Exit 49
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 

Exit 49

(Dockyard 2 - 2009)



 
 

 

After the release of Eye For An Eye the band had to face some line-up changes, Dreamland's new drummer is Alexx and the guitar is now handled by Nils Olsson. Last November they wanted to start recording their new album at Sonic Train Studios, but on the way they got involved in a car crash at E6 just South of Exit 49. After a check-up at a near-by hospital they been released. The band was shaken, but not injured. The recordings been postponed and as a result of this experienced the songs changed and the title speaks off this experience.

The Swedish quintet kicks off with A Touch Of Evil, a fast, heavy track with a cool guitars and a catchy melody. Singer Jake E shows more variety this time. A good opener. Then they speed up for Set The Heavens On Fire, a riff-based track which offers additionally high-pitched vocals and more mighty backings. This time the Swedish show a more unique sound, even if there are reminiscences to other bands. But you won't really think about it, coz you'll sing along! A half-time break you get with the balladesque Worlds Apart, an emotional tune with a symphonic edge, but later in the song they add some heavy riffs and the track becomes a power ballad. The backings perhaps a bit too much... too polished, quite late 80's like, but well... Time to speed up for My Sweet Revenge and Exit 49. A cool mid-paced rocker is Nordic Rage, again you get some heavy riffs and a catchy hook. With Song For You you get acoustic guitars and vocals, a beautiful ballad. Dreamland show their emotional side with out getting cheesy. Very heavy is Shortest Straw, a fast rocker with growls and clean vocals - and a dash aggression. Well done!

Every fan of melodic power metal should check out Exit 49! I recommend The Warning, The Curse, Worlds Apart and So Weak, So Feeble.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Eye For An Eye

(Dockyard 1 - 2007)



 
 

 

With Eye For An Eye the Swedish present their sophomore album and again the production was done by Andy LaRocque (King Diamond) and Joacim Cans (HammerFall - took care of the vocals during the production). Musically the Swedish present melodic power metal with a dose of true metal - no surprise at all.

They are opening up with the catchy title track which is guitar-driven and shows a short guitar solo in the middle part. Only this song sounds like something I heard before... More interesting is the following Carousel Of Pain. An up-tempo song with heavy riffing and a bit US metal... Singer Joacim Lundberg hits some high notes here, but luckily only here and there, coz I think he has a more powerful voice when not singing high-pitched... Carousel Of Pain has some reminiscences to early Helloween (Kiske-era)... but that's not bad at all. On Reverse Deny they slow down a little and the choir sounds a bit like HammerFall.... Well, no surprise as HammerFall singer Joacim Cans is involved, but don't expect the whole song to sound like their fellow countrymen! On Secret Signs Lundberg's vocals remind me a bit of some 80's melodic metal band... Which is cool, coz it adds some variety. Most songs are mid- to up-tempo and this time you won't find a ballad on the album. So some variety is even more important to keep the listeners attention. Very heavy riffs lead into Spread Your Wings, but just after a moment the quintet will surprise you! The song has a bit of... Tyketto and vocally some Don Dokken influence is audible. The fast drum beat built a great contrast to the melodic guitars and the catchy vocals. Great tune! Not just the title Shadows Of The Night sounds like Whitesnake, the song as a Whitesnake vibe, even if it's a song based on heavy guitar riffs. With Forever And Ever they recorded a metal anthem which live will be a killer - some HammerFall shines through... Revolution In Paradise has some Maiden-like riffs at the beginning, but then then they add some oriental touch for a moment... With the use of some distorted vocals they surprise the listener a little later. But the growls are only an element and used as a counter part to the voice of Lundberg. A song full of surprises for the listener and hopefully next time they have more surprises like this one!

The five-some isn't offering something new, but it's pretty tough to create something new these days! The Gothenborg band is presenting an interesting mixture of their influences and so a melange of 80's US metal, today's power metal and some 80's hard rock influences is what you get on this album. Highlights are: Carousel Of Pain, Secret Signs, Revolution In Paradise and Spread Your Wings.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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