Review by David on May 12, 2014.

Prior to the release of this album the single A Voice in the Dark certainly raised expectations. The metallic ruthlessness of that track, which harkened back to the aggressive yet dynamically precise spirit of the Nightfall in Middle-Earth, really gave this listener hope that the over-produced and bloated styling of the last two albums had been kicked to the curb in favour of more a more vital and energetic approach. Maybe it was hope after seeing such a great band drift in the direction of irrelevance, but whatever it was this album doesn’t restore the faith in the way I’d hoped for.

Sacred Worlds, the lead-off track, wasn’t actually composed for this album, rather a video game soundtrack. Curiously the band decided it would be a fitting opener, orchestral sections were glued to it and it was glued to the track-listing. Odd for the band to do this because even with (or perhaps, because of) the orchestral additions it seems more like a song unto itself rather than part of a greater work. This is pretty much symptomatic of the greater issues with the album, the tendency to overdo things and lose focus of the larger picture.

The album doesn’t really kick into gear until Road of no Release (sneaky reprise of the closing piano part from The Eldar) which is somewhat subtle in its delivery, snaking through a variety of riffs and tempos to build up into a fantastically drawn out chorus. Subsequent tracks, however, see layer upon layer of orchestration build up and for all the coatings the overwhelming feeling is that underneath it all is not a great deal of anything. That’s not to say there aren’t good ideas; for instance at its heart the folksy charm of Curse My Name is quite endearing, but it overextends itself with synths and vocal layers into oblivion.

It’s not really until A Voice in the Dark that all the layers of gloss are stripped back and the heavy metal beast is revealed. The precise and energetic riffs spin out of control and Hansi’s vocals are unleashed to their full glorious extent, something that was sorely lacking up until this point. The passion in the delivery is breath-taking and in the context of previous tracks so desperately needed, to the point that the five and a half minutes don’t seem to be nearly enough. Then the album closes out with Wheel of Time, a track that manages to convey cinematic overtones around a much more solid framework, a fine closer that really throws out some tidy riffing and dynamic flow.

Whereas the previous two albums just felt like so much hot air, this one is so much more frustrating a collection to listen to. In amongst all the overworked fluff there are some ideas that could have been a part of good foundations instead of being used to prop up all the pomp. There is clearly still creativity and passion on display here, but somewhere in the process it seems to have mostly been drowned out by the little bit here and the little bit there that got draped around it.

Rating: 4 out of 10

Review by JD on February 20, 2009.

Switzerland seems to be fuelling a fire of a newer wave of melodic yet still heavy Death Metal right now, and Dreamshade shows that they are in the thick of it all. This band has the talent, the in your face heaviness and drive... a potent and lethal combination if you are a band that is very hungry for world domination.

Dreamshade are heavy as anyone out there today in any metal market...and is serving up a huge and rather hard bitch-slap of sadistic in-your-face metal on this album. The Swiss Death-thrashers truly are a band that really does put the term 'heavy' back into Heavy Metal... and then redefines it at every turn.

They can play with great harmony, and all while shredding with such pinpoint accuracy that comes with great overall musical talent. They actually remind me a little of very early Cradle Of Filth that ends up meeting Progressive Metal in some dark alley and then having a bastard spawn. That may be a odd description for the bands music, but I would say it is the best way to explain how this Swiss explosion is.

Dreamshade have that certain something that is so remarkably proficient with their music and all without losing the heaviness like some bands end up doing. So many bands cannot say that, especially in the Death Metal scene. It is so true, Dreamshade does it and does it so damned well... and it shows that the genre is alive and kicking some really serious ass.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 8
Originality: 8
Overall: 8.5

Rating: 8.3 out of 10