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Dreamtale: Epsilon

Melodic Heavy/Power Metal

4.5/5.0

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IceWarrior / Rock It Up Records
by Craig Hartranft,  11.09.2012

I wondered what happened to Finland's Dreamtale. While not quite as well known as comrades like Stratovarius or the mammoth Nightwish, Dreamtale is always one of the better European power metal bands. Their fifth album, Epsilon (from fifth letter in the Greek alphabet), first saw the light of day in Finland last year, but now gets the push to the greater European theater, hopefully for greater distribution, may be even North America.

Dreamtale:: nice pipes.

Dreamtale has many good qualities for a power metal band. One is actually a negative: not every song is full throttle galloping speed metal. For instance, Angel of Light and Fly Away are definitely up tempo, but they're not racing at break-neck speed. Reasons Revealed, a metal hymn, has a steady pace and epic feel.

Another fine aspect of Dreamtale's metal are the vocal arrangements led by Erkki Seppanen and filled out in harmony by other members. Seppanen, who looks like a professional wrestler, can actually sing, with melody, strength, and range. Also notable is Dreamtale's ability to under gird their songs with a melodic rock groove. Along side the power metal stalwarts of speed, symphonic synths, and epic guitars is this head-banging, toe-tapping, groove. You can hear this within Each Time I Die, Fly Away, and Firestorm. Other sound elements of the band's style include an excellent balance of instruments, with none overpowering the others, solid musicianship, and clear production.

In the end, however, true to the genre, Dreamtale offers the basic stuff: epic and bombastic, melodic and heavy, power metal. What more could you ask for? Easily recommended to fans of the band and the power metal genre.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

True to the genre, on Epsilon, Dreamtale offers the basic stuff: epic and bombastic, melodic and heavy, power metal. What more could you ask for? Easily recommended to fans of the band and the power metal genre.

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Here's a fun fact about Swiss legends, Gotthard: their last 16 releases, excepting their debut album, went to number one in their home country, making them one of Switzerland's most successful acts and ... [ Read More ]