EVERLIGHT

Dreamscape is a hidden jam of prog metal. Lack of wider recognition, probably, was the reason of their break-up after the excellent 2007 album. But five years after the band's mastermind, guitarist Wolfgang Kerinnis, managed to put out a new album. It's a strange one and not their best. There are different lead vocalists for a lot of songs (and, as if to sum up, all return once more for the epic song). Somehow it doesn't feel like a proper album. Although it was probably deliberate design.

Then it's a testament to the guy's talents that it is all very listenable (but you have to give it a few spins). The principal vocalist has an aggresive style, so most songs are in prog-power vein, rather than the intense and emotional Dreamtheater vibe of the 5th Season ( come on! DREAMscape! 5th SEASON!). But there are also classically inspired instrumental pieces, a couple of ballads, and more-changes-than-you-blink prog workout of "A matter of time transforming".

A feature of the band is the very heavy tone of the guitar. Keyboards are equally prominent and diverse, from piano-ish runs to dramatic soundscapes. But structures generally are less complex than before, maybe an appeal for broader recognition this time around.

Dreamscape is without doubt one of my fav prog metal bands ever, not only from Germany but from Europe aswell. The previous album from 2007 named 5th season was for me a real gem and a masterpieces of the genre for sure. After this album was released soon around 2008 the band broke up , I was really shocked that another one of my fav bands will gone into oblivion, because Dreamscape is hardly well known in prog metal circles and is unfairly unnoticed world wide and their music is top notch. Few Years later after they disbanded the head of the band guitarist Wolfgang Kerinnis manage to reform the band and even releasing a new album in 2012 named Everlight. Well, I'm very glad that they are still in bussines and the album is a great example of solid prog metal these days. Is complex , is melodic has plenty of memorable arrangements, specially the keyboards are extremly diverse and very tastefuly done. A new voice appear here, Francesco Marino who done a good job, his voice has a bit of anger in his tone, but integrated very well in Dreamscape music. Aswell, I'm glad that they not change the direction, musicaly speaking, they remaining on same coordonates as previous albums, a thing to appreciate I might say. There are a some invited guests here, some well known among others like Arno Menses from ex Sieges Even , Subsignal fame, Oliver Hartman from Avantasia their ex vocalist Roland Stoll and few more. So, as I said the music is great, I see lot of talent puted in this new album, lot of work, even this is not as great as previous release, still is quite solid most of the time. 12 pieces, with 3 instrumentals, the opning track who sets the mood for the album, prog metal delight with some symphonic elements thrown in, The Calm Before The Storm and the smooth acustical journey on Refugium In Db-Major, the rest are with voice. All stands as great, no weak moments here, even some spectacular ones like on longest track A Matter Of Time Transforming, restless, etc. Comlicated prog metal with nice interludes between guitars and keyboards, the keyboards are almost perfect to my ears, really very awesome parts. All in all a very nice prog metal album that will please most of the prog metal fans, I like it, their technical abilities are impressive like on previous 2-3 albums. 4 stars to this album, a welcome come back of one of my fav prog metal bands in last decade. For fans of Empty Tremor, even Subsignal or Dream Theater.