Windrow - Trilogy (2007)

Tracklist:
01. Always In Silence
02. I Am The King
03. Tears Of Anger
04. Victory
05. Wings Of Fate
06. Fury Of The Will
07. Someone May Think We Are Losers
08. Golden Heart
09. The Hole
10. Eagle Fly Free (Helloween cover)
11. The Seventh Prophecy

Country: Italy
Genre: Power metal
Label: Self-released
Release date: June 3:d, 2007

Line-up:
Pino Chirico - vocals
Guiseppe Longo - guitars
Flavio Chichetti - guitars
Carlo Fantoni - bass
Ugo Montana - drums

Well, this is certainly a nice surprise! When people think of Italy and power metal, the band Rhapsody of Fire usually comes to mind. Other than that band, what usually plagues many groups from pastaland is lack of new ideas, poor production jobs and sub-par vocal abilities. Not so with Windrow, I am pleased to say. This quintet from Rome has released two albums prior to this, their third and latest one, aptly titled Trilogy. And let me tell you, it is a mighty fine album. For once, everything (mostly) is done right. Instrumentation is well executed, production is slick, but with enough crunch and power to not let this sink in the flood of "could-have-been-great-records-if-it-weren't-for-the-weak-sound". Also, vocalist Pino Chirico has one good set of pipes, which he demonstrates in the very first minute of the first song "Always In Silence".

Stylistically, this is power metal, mid- and uptempo, done without any real frills or "extras" to make it stand out, but it works anyway, since everything is done right, if you catch my drift. What's most important to me in a record are, and will always be, the songs themselves. If the tunes do not 'click' with me (which in general means being either catchy, anthemic or fast) I usually see no reason to continue listening. Windrow have some good tunes, however, which makes me want to go back and listen again. Examples of such songs would be the aforementioned "Always In Silence", "Victory" and "Fury Of The Will" that all contain elements of my preference.

Also included is a more than passable cover version of Helloween's "Eagle Fly Free". This song is my favorite tune of all time and all genres, so I wouldn't take a butchering of it lightly.

So Windrow may not be reinventing the weel, but they're making sure it runs smoothly, and sometimes that is just enough. Check out this talented band!

(originally published on Mostly Metal Reviews August 11:th, 2007)

Dragonland - Astronomy (2006)

Tracklist:
01. Supernova
02. Cassiopeia
03. Contact
04. Astronomy
05. Antimatter
06. The Book Of Shadows Part IV: The Scrolls Of Geometria Divina
07. Beethoven's Nightmare
08. Too Late For Sorrow
09. Direction: Perfection
10. The Old House On The Hill Chapter I: A Death In The Family
11. The Old House On The Hill Chapter II: The Thing In The Cellar
12. The Old House On The Hill Chapter III: The Ring Of Edward Waldon

Country: Sweden
Genre: Melodic power metal/progressive
Label: Century Media
Release date: November 13:th, 2006

Line-up:
Jonas Heidgert - vocals
Olof Mörck - guitars
Nicklas Magnusson - guitars
Christer Pedersen - bass
Elias Holmlid - keyboards
Jesse Lindskog - drums

I've been a fan of Dragonland ever since I heard their second album Holy War (2002). Although they've changed their style pretty drastically, they've still retained the sense of melody and catchiness which I love. In short: As much as I love the galloping rhythms of the aforementioned album, I can but marvel at the striking sense of musicianship displayed on its successor Starfall (2004) and on the latest outing Astronomy. The guys have honed their songwriting abilities, and on this album they display the results. What we have here is a brilliant concoction of tunes that range from the bombastic opener "Supernova" (I get goosebumps everytime Jonas launches into "detonate the sky ..."), to the laid-back, but nontheless melodic "Too Late For Sorrow" to the ultra-catchy and galloping "Contact." Here Olof Mörck and Nicklas Magnusson show exactly when a blistering solo is appropriate. Too many are the times that I've heard bands launch into pointless solo escapades just for the sake of, well, soloing. Not this time around. This solo fits perfectly with the song and is beautiful to boot.

Basically, I could mention each and every song on the album. Each has its own charm. I'd like to give extra kudos to the bombastic and instrumental closing trilogy of "The Old House On The Hill." A continuation of "The Book Of Shadows" from Starfall, if you will, or just ten odd minutes of marvellously orchestrated film score metal (yeah, Rhapsody Of Fire, these guys know how to do it too!). Anywho, an excellent way to finish off an album that grows. And grows. And grows. Based on their last two efforts, I am really stoked to follow Dragonland's future endeavours.

(originally published on Mostly Metal Reviews July 15:th, 2007)