Review by JD on October 23, 2008.

We have Prog metal meeting old school metal here... pretty much sums up this amazing band from Chicago IL. What my opening line does not say in it, is how damned great this band really is.. it has to be heard.

Sacred Dawn had mixed the two basic styles, and added in some hard rock and even some almost neoclassical influences to create some of the most attention grabbing music I have ever crossed paths with. What Nightmare Records has released is in my view, one of the best albums that has been released this year. Hauntingly beautiful in some spots, heavy as a twenty ton bolder on your head in other places... they are a perfect blending of what makes metal music so damn great.


Vocally, Lothar Keller delivers such a array of emotions and power it is beyond amazing... one of the first thing you notice on the album. John Vitale on guitar creates a perfect attack to go along with Keller's music while the duo of beat ( Drums: Brad "Sabbath" Sabathne and Bass: Joey Vega) create the spine of this metal monster, and bring the whole damn thing together.

Pure and simply, this amazing foursome gives people like Dream Theatre, Queensryche and Fates Warning a big run for their Progressive lives. Sacred Dawn perfectly creates something that is pure, simple and yet has intelligence as well. This is quite possibly the best album release of '08, and I am not normally into Prog Metal.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 10
Originality: 9
Overall: 9

Rating: 9.2 out of 10