Dream Evil – United (Release Year – 2006)
I passed by the Dream Evil’s United disc in my local record shop several times over the last few weeks. Each time, the cover on this disc would catch my eye, but I haven’t ever heard a single track by this band in my life, so I wasn’t will to lay the bucks to check it out. My local store has a demo copy sitting out, and let me listen to the first couple of songs. This CD went home shortly thereafter. The real bonus is, I picked up one of the first pressings of this disc, that comes with a second CD, with 5 extra songs (at the same price).
What does Dream Evil sound like? If there was a 2nd New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Dream Evil would be one of the bands leading the pack. This is very much in the same vein as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, without sounding like either of those two bands. This isn’t power metal or progressive rock, this is heavy metal, the way it is supposed to be done!!
Lead Singer Niklas Isfeldt has the pipes to really belt out these tunes, and drive them home. At times he hits notes in the Rob Halford range, which is really cool to hear. Dream Evil has a fiery axe attack of Mark Black on lead, and Frederick Nordstrom on rhythm guitars. The heaviness of this guitar duo reminds me quite a bit of Accept, but the intensity of Peter Stalfors bass really gives this band a different sound. The commanding double bass drums of Pat Power tops off Dream Evil’s powerful yet melodic sound.
United is a very heavy disc, with no filler tracks. There are plenty of stand out tracks:
Fire! Battle! In Metal! is as good as metal anthems come. United, Evilution, Let Me Out, Higher on Fire and Back From the Dead are all impressive. When the band slows it down on Love is Blind, I was blown away. This is one killer heavy track that has to be heard to be appreciated.
Don’t take my word for it. Listen to the video and the 3 mp3′s below, and discover this awesome band for yourself. Fans of British Heavy Metal would be crazy not to pick this up! If I had heard this disc in 2006, it would have cracked my 2006 Heavy metal Top 5 list for sure.
Rating:
Out of 10
Fire! Battle! In Metal!
United
Let Me Out
Back From the Dead
Track Listing:
Disc 1
- Fire! Battle! In Metal!
- United
- Blind Evil
- Evilution
- Let Me Out
- Higher On Fire
- Kingdom At War
- Love Is Blind
- Falling
- Back From the Dead
- Doomlord
- My Number One
Disc 2
- Calling Your Name
- Dynamite
- Into the Unknown
- I Will Never
- Vengeance
I have now heard most of this album and it ROCKS. The music reminds me of the style of Primal Fear but with a better singer. I recommend it highly.
Rene, Haven’t seen for you a while! Welcome back bro!
I still have to by their new album. THE BOOK OF HEAVY METAL was an increible great album. DREAM EVIL are a cool band that are keeping real heavy metal alive. Same with WOLF, an other great band, or the underated NOT FRAGILE.
Fire, Battle, In Metal is a killer song.