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Dreams Of Sanity - The Game CD (album) cover

THE GAME

Dreams Of Sanity

Progressive Metal


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Prog-jester
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars 3+ stars.

One can easily notice how the band was PROGRESSING - from average half-Power- Metal debut effort through LACRIMOSA-like second album to "The Game", which is their PROGGIEST attempt and sadly their last one. Again melodical and heavily orchestrated, with enjoyable female vocals and elements of Folk and Gothic music (usual ones ofr that kind of music ), DREAMS OF SANITY's stuff never gets boring - it may become a background for a few minutes, but then they manage to grab back your attention. Terribly overlooked and underrated band - they deserve more attention especially among Prog-Metal-Heads. I would love to see them reunite - they would be even more interesting now, I think. Thanks Avestin for addition , by the way

Report this review (#107037)
Posted Wednesday, January 10, 2007 | Review Permalink
Tarcisio Moura
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars When I first heard The Game I had an uneasy feeling the band was falling apart, which, sadly was really happening. It is a shame, for they were very promising and had evolved a lot since their debut. The second, Masquerade, is a near masterpiece of prog metal. For the third they tried to expand the formula without repeating themselves. This was partialy successful, although some of the group´s tighness is somewhat lost in the process. Certainly Sandra Schleret is a very unique and strong singer, with a fine classical trained voice that sounds like no one else. I also loved Frederic Heil´s keyboards playing: he gave the band much of its symphonic sound. The rest of the band were not far behind, they were all skilled musicians.

Unfortunatly neither the songwriting nor the overall playing is as inspired and strong as on Masquerade. Still, the CD is very well recorded and has some good cuts. Even at this turbulent stage they could outdo most of prog metal bands in terms of quality. Production is quite superior to those of previous effords also. If you liked Masquerade you´ll probably enjoy this one too. If you´re new to the band I suggest you start with Masquerade. 3,5 stars.

Report this review (#195107)
Posted Friday, December 26, 2008 | Review Permalink
b_olariu
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars 3.5

Dreams of sanity is an austrian prog metal band never quite manageing to crab all the attention of the listners with the 3 albums they release befor disbanding in 2001. After two almost unnoticed albums, conceptual ones , first about Dante Alighieri ("Divine Comedy") and second about Gaston Leraux ("The Phantom Of The Opera"), Dreams of sanity comes with a third album released in 2000 and named The game - released at fampus label Hall of seremon same year. So this album is again a concept one , the story of a human being -The creature - from cradle to the grave, a real intristing journey here, if besides lyrics the music is very good. Knowing this band since their second ne album, I don't know why I skip to make some review of their albums so far, seems that always something was more important then them. Now is the time, for their third album, who is to me their most progressive one, not a traditional progressive metal album in anyway, not another DT clone, the music is filled with excellent gothic metal moments, folky passages and very strong vocal arrangements,the amount of melody and melancholy is all over but together forming a great mixture with the progressive metal ones. The pieces has all balls, a thing that I like, the voice of Sandra Schleret is strong and fits very well in the bands sound, I've always been a fan of her voice together with Sabines from Edenbridge, even in places the two are quite diffrent in aproach, but good for sure. So, The game is a solid album, on same level with their second one, not better not weaker, all pieces are good with a plus on The Beginning That Lies and We.ll.sea, brilliant musicianship and very solid riffing and druming. I will give 3-3.5 for this album, while is a good one in every way I can't give more then a 3, 3 and a half, something is missing is the overall sound. Fans of The gathering, Mandylion era, Edenbridge for the more neoclassical prog metal phase, etc - Dreams of sanity is a good aqusition, for me was a pleasent listning this album.

Report this review (#268683)
Posted Saturday, February 27, 2010 | Review Permalink
3 stars The final album from this rather underrated band. A band that drowned in the masses of female fronted goth metal bands at that time.

In the still prolific vocalist Sandra Schleret, they had a brilliant vocalist. No wonder she is a solo artist now. The music is fitted in behind her voice. The music is a blend of neo classical music and goth metal. Plenty of beautiful progressive goth rock can be found on this album. In a song like The Beginning That Lies, they also had an ace up their sleeve.

The result is a good album. Besides of The Beginning That Lies, there is no real great songs. But there are no real weak songs here either. I am by no means a fan of goth metal. But this album is an exception from my disdain of this genre.

3 stars

Report this review (#626986)
Posted Sunday, February 5, 2012 | Review Permalink
4 stars 'The Game' was my introduction to Austrian symphonic/progressive metal band Dreams of Sanity, having snapped it up quickly after hearing some of their music online and loving it. Sadly, this, their third studio album, was also their last, as the group split up shortly after its 2000 release. Especially unfortunate as this is undoubtedly their strongest outing.

Falling under the subgenre of progressive, power, gothic or symphonic metal (pick one), Dreams of Sanity have that perfect blend of heavy, grooving guitar riffs with plenty of melodic keyboards and string sounds. The songs have complex structures with plenty of excellent interplay between all involved, but without the mindless shredding and endless soloing that the genre is sometimes (in)famous for.

The production is absolutely spot on here. While the band's debut 'K'm'dia' was fairly average, it's follow-up, 'Masquerade' was a massive leap forward, and so building upon that, with 'The Game' the Austrian's have really nailed the rich, vibrant and clear sound that gives every instrument clarity and warmth.

With songs such as 'The Beginning That Lies', 'The Creature That You Came to See', 'And So (I Walk On)', 'We.II.Sea', 'The Empress', and... ah, you know what? Bugger it, they're all brilliant! Dreams of Sanity really hit their stride with this release, and it's an absolute travesty that the band fell apart shortly after. Still, I'm glad I stumbled across these guys, because this is an incredible album by a hugely underrated band.

Report this review (#1801695)
Posted Sunday, October 8, 2017 | Review Permalink

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