THE GAME

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

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.

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.