Dreamland Futures Calling
Dockyard 1 DY100200 November 21st, 2005
By Jason Jordan
With cover art like what you see in front of you, a name like Dreamland, and an album title like Futures Calling, could this be anything but blackened goregrind? Yes. Yes it could be, and it is in fact power metal of an average variety. Perhaps for a debut this is a decent showing, though veteran consumers of the subgenre will probably push this away in favor of something more innovative and refreshing.
Similar to myriad groups out there, these Swedes have a few names they can drop. Vocalist Joacim Lundberg, under a pseudonym, spent a month in Dream Evil, and co-producers included Andy LaRocque (King Diamond) and Joacim Cans (Hammerfall). If your conjecture states that Futures Calling sounds great all around, then youd be correct. In-depth assessments aside, Dreamland pass the musicianship test, but the songwriting evidently sprained an ankle in one of the formulaic potholes that riddles the stylistic road. Though Hearts Like Lions, Futures Calling, and Breaking the Chains are catchy enough, not much else can touch em. A New Way has a Balance of Power (Ten More Tales of ) feel to it during the chorus, although its understandably less progressive in scope. The Chance (Intro), Fade Away, Blank Mind, and Repeating Supremacy (Outro) the two in the middle being ballads are of little significance, adding yet more filler to an otherwise average release. By this point, however, if youve followed my reviews for a while, youll know that power metal aint my thing. Still, I like to think Im capable of appreciating above average power metal such as Dungeon and, uh, I think its time to insert a period.
Anyway, Dreamland have risen to the challenge of including every PM element that a disc like Futures Calling requires to be considered an entry into said subgenre. At 50 minutes and 13 tracks, only the hardcore should give this more than a passing glance. Its not exceptional by any means, but I suppose in the same breath its not too shabby either.
5/10
UMs Review Rating Scale
Official Dreamland Website
Official Dockyard 1 Website
Dockyard 1 DY100200 November 21st, 2005
By Jason Jordan
With cover art like what you see in front of you, a name like Dreamland, and an album title like Futures Calling, could this be anything but blackened goregrind? Yes. Yes it could be, and it is in fact power metal of an average variety. Perhaps for a debut this is a decent showing, though veteran consumers of the subgenre will probably push this away in favor of something more innovative and refreshing.
Similar to myriad groups out there, these Swedes have a few names they can drop. Vocalist Joacim Lundberg, under a pseudonym, spent a month in Dream Evil, and co-producers included Andy LaRocque (King Diamond) and Joacim Cans (Hammerfall). If your conjecture states that Futures Calling sounds great all around, then youd be correct. In-depth assessments aside, Dreamland pass the musicianship test, but the songwriting evidently sprained an ankle in one of the formulaic potholes that riddles the stylistic road. Though Hearts Like Lions, Futures Calling, and Breaking the Chains are catchy enough, not much else can touch em. A New Way has a Balance of Power (Ten More Tales of ) feel to it during the chorus, although its understandably less progressive in scope. The Chance (Intro), Fade Away, Blank Mind, and Repeating Supremacy (Outro) the two in the middle being ballads are of little significance, adding yet more filler to an otherwise average release. By this point, however, if youve followed my reviews for a while, youll know that power metal aint my thing. Still, I like to think Im capable of appreciating above average power metal such as Dungeon and, uh, I think its time to insert a period.
Anyway, Dreamland have risen to the challenge of including every PM element that a disc like Futures Calling requires to be considered an entry into said subgenre. At 50 minutes and 13 tracks, only the hardcore should give this more than a passing glance. Its not exceptional by any means, but I suppose in the same breath its not too shabby either.
5/10
UMs Review Rating Scale
Official Dreamland Website
Official Dockyard 1 Website
