Reviewed: October 1, 2022
Released: October 14, 2022, AFM Records
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: The Elitist Metalhead
Sweden’s DRAGONLAND is one of my all time favorite power metal bands. Their 2002 release Holy Wars is the definitive power metal album to the point that I use that album as an example of how real European power metal is done; who can deny the importance of a power metal version of “The Neverending Story” theme song. Over the years the genre has become watered down and oversaturated with bands trying to be the most symphonic or use the most operatics, but the actual riffs and song structure suffers. However, DRAGONLAND seems to not suffer from those ills and have stayed true to the original glory of the genre. Their new album, The Power of the Nightstar, is a prime example of how power metal is done in 2022.
After a brief intro we are graced with the opener, “A Light in the Dark.” While most would think a speedy fast number would do here but this is not that song, but it works. The riffs are present as are the scales from both the keyboards and the guitars. The main riff during the early part of the verse is that chug chug riffing that plagues most of the releases in the genre today. Thankfully it does not last and we move towards the double bass and speed we are used to just prior to the chorus, which is catchy and extremely melodic. As always, the solos that this band presents to us are always very well done and technically brilliant. “Flight From Destruction” was one of the singles released and this song is all DRAGONLAND! This is what made this band one of my favorites in the genre. The riffs over this double bass driven song are infectious and the keys add that melody that is necessary for an effective power metal song. The solos on this one are far better than the opener. In fact, I would have preferred this to be the opener just in how its a textbook power metal opener.
This album took some time to grow on me because as much as this stays true to the roots of the genre, it also deviates in places. The flow of this album took some getting used to as well. For example, as a rule the first three tracks on an album are important to see if the flow will work. On this album, the third song in was not as strong as the first two so it seemed to interrupt the flow a bit. “The Scattering of Darkness” would have been a better song to round out the opening trio and maybe place “Through Galaxies Endless” later in the album. As much as the album grew on me, it just was not as effective as previous albums and the over an hour length adds to that lack of effectiveness. Songs like the title track are really good and work really well. it has the ingredients of a killer power metal track. The chorus is especially catchy. Then you have a song like “Journey’s End” that, on the surface, should be the all out epic power metal track but it, instead, falls kind of flat. I am a fan of long epic songs but they need to keep my attention, and this song suffered from just being too long.
Apart from the issues I had with this album, which is probable due to my personal preferences, this is one of the strongest power metal albums released in a while by a band that I still consider one of the best in the genre. I just think they could have scaled it back a bit and thought more about where the song goes on the album. That said, I still highly recommend this album because these few issues do not outweigh the overall enjoyment of this album. After a decade DRAGONLAND are back, and I could not be happier!
Video
Line Up:
Elias Holmlid – Keyboards
Anders Hammer – Bass
Jonas Heidgert – Vocals
Olof Mörck – Guitars
Jesse Lindskog – Guitars
Johan Nunez – Drums
Track Listing:
1. The Awakening
2. A Light in the Dark
3. Flight from Destruction
4. Through Galaxies Endless
5. The Scattering of Darkness
6. A Threat from Beyond the Shadows
7. Aphelion
8. Celestial Squadron
9. Resurrecting an Ancient Technology
10. The Power of the Nightstar
11. Final Hour
12. Journey’s End
13. Oblivion
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