Recent Reviews

September 2023

August 2023

July 2023

June 2023

[ More Music Reviews ]


Dreamtale: Phoenix
Melodic Metal/Power Metal
Rating: 4.5/5.0

What Thy Majestie counld not pull off on their latest release 'Dawn,' Finnish melodic metallers Dreamtale does with grand and beautiful style. 'Phoenix' is marvelous metal, strongly melodic with a healthy current of power metal surging through it. I first caught up with Dreamtale on 'Ocean's Heart' (2003) and then followed them to 'Difference' (2005); both were good works with some better than average promise. They could easily be overlooked. With 'Phoenix,' Dreamtale has found their stride and it's strong and vibrant.

'Phoenix,' except for a few distractions, is solid work from beginning to end. Throughout this work you will encounter several strong threads: a strong rhythm section, a solid and noticeable keyboard presence, and some very infectious melodies with big choruses. Add to this the fact that Dreamtale can swing to heavier melodic metal (Payback or Great Shadow) and then to smoother and pure melodic metal (Take What The Heavens Create and No Angels No More) with ease and accuracy. Possibly the single song that sums up all these things and the depth of Dreamtale's current musical state is the profound and pleasing 'Faceless Men.' The aforementioned distractions only come whe Dreamtale pursues ordinary melodic power metal as on 'Eyes Of The Clown' and the 'The Vigilante,' not the best conclusion to an otherwise brilliant work.

Dreamtale's 'Phoenix' is an exceptional work with few flaws; it's my favorite Dreamtale work to date. This is solid melodic/power metal and establishes Dreamtale as one of the best in the field. Very recommended!

In Short

Dreamtale's 'Phoenix' is an exceptional work with few flaws; it's my favorite Dreamtale work to date. This is solid melodic/power metal and establishes Dreamtale as one of the best in the field.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
Album of the Week
Read the Eclipse: Megalomanium Album Review

Formed in 1999 by singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Erik Martensson, Sweden's Eclipse is well into their third decade of making music. In the recent past, their recordings and reputation have ... [ Read More ]