- CURRENTLY RECOMMENDED METAL
- Reviews by Dr. Metal
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- DREAM EVIL – EVILIZED
- 2003 Century Media
I’ll be honest– this album didn’t hit me as hard as the debut album...at first. I’ve had it since it was released and I listened to it numerous times after buying it. While I liked it, I didn’t think it was as good as DRAGON SLAYER. I put it away and pulled it out again recently and I’m blown away. You see, this is a GREAT Power Metal album. No, it’s not as good as DRAGON SLAYER, but it rocks! It’s more straight-ahead Power Metal. Gone (sadly) are the lyrics about kings and dragons, with more modern-style lyrics about the world. This is not a bad thing, but it kind of makes me wonder if Dream Evil got any heat for their slightly cheesy lyrics in DRAGONSLAYER. The same thing happened to Nocturnal Rites. Personally, I loved the lyrics and the music in DRAGON SLAYER and I wish they hadn’t changed a damn thing. But I’m not the artist, I’m just a fan, so I don’t call the shots. One other thing missing (again, sadly) in EVILIZED are the harmony guitar leads. Here, they’re going more for speed and crushing power. I really miss that harmony vibe they had going in DRAGON SLAYER. But these songs are so good, that I have to let it go! There are some catchy, pounding songs on EVILIZED that truly kick ass, such as “Break The Chains,” “By My Side,” “Fight You ‘Till The End,” and “Fear The Night.” The first song released as an MP3 was “Children Of The Night,” which is probably closer to the sound of DRAGON SLAYER than anything else on this album. Great song, with great vocals and some cool harmony guitars. Again, the band professes its’ Metal faith with “Made of Metal.” (Check out the lyrics to this song for a little chuckle.) Twelve songs total with one ballad called “Forevermore.”
The production on EVILIZED, again by Fredrik Nordstrum, is totally flawless. There are only a few bands in the world that sound this good. Every instrument is perfectly represented and the vocals of the amazingly talented Niklas Isfeldt are nicely done. Snowy Shaw again does a great job on the drums, his fills and double bass work are awesome. Gus G is again brilliant on guitar. (If you like Dream Evil, definitely check out his other band Firewind.)
I would like to say that if you bought this album and weren’t immediately blown away, then go back and give it another listen. If you didn’t buy it, definitely pick it up. Power Metal doesn’t get much better. This band is hitting its' stride now.
DISCOGRAPHY:
- DRAGON SLAYER (2002) Century Media
- EVILIZED (2003) Century Media
- Click here for the Official DREAM EVIL Homepage.
- EVILIZED (2003) Century Media