DREAMTALE – Seventhian… Memories Of Time [Japan Edition +1] (2016)

“Seventhian… Memories Of Time” is the new album by Finnish melodic power metal act DREAMTALE, their seventh – hence the title – plus a bonus track on this Japanese Edition. But the title refers to ‘Memories Of Time’ too, because the release includes an extra disc with 2016 re-recordings of several tracks from his classic repertoire.

Dreamtale fits perfectly within that group of bands that, despite having released a really strong set of records since their inception, never achieved the same recognition other peers in the genre already got.
Their brand of Euro power metal is pretty accessible, with ever present keyboard stabs, melodic refrains and cool choruses. If you are new to them, think a mix of a lighter Helloween, Kiske solo and the heaviest Jaded Heart.

“Seventhian” showcases Dreamtale in fine form since opener ‘Dreality’, a melodious starter with punchy riffs, strong keyboard presence, clean vocals and a catchy chorus.
Several tracks like ‘October Is Mine’ will remind you ’90s sounds of the genre, then the moving ‘Picnic Inferno’, some recent Jorn Lande solo works.
‘October Is Mine’ and ‘True Life’ sounds like lost Helloween singles, then if you need more speed-up classic power metal check ‘Cabal Toyboy’ or ‘For Our Future’.

Some modern riffs impregnate the groovy ‘Reality Reborn’, but Dreamtale also go for hard rock with keyboard effloresce in tracks such as ‘Names On The Wall’ akin Axel Rudi Pell or late ’80s Yngwie.
The band do an intense midtempo-ballad on ‘Embrace My Scars’, while Japanese bonus ‘Even If I Cannot Breathe’ is a quite anthemic tune again with a Nineties feel.
Bonus disc features strong reworked versions of Dreamtale best known songs such as
‘Call of the Wild’, ‘Refuge from Reality’ and the hard rocking ‘My Only Wish’ (one of my favorites).

Dreamtale may be not the best known melodic power metal act but without a doubt, over the years, remain as one of the few bands faithful to this genre’s classic sound.
“Seventhian… Memories Of Time” blends a traditional ’90s style with a relevant modern sound, embraced by a clean production. All really well arranged and melodic.
Two thumbs up

Seventhian:
01 – Dreality
02 – For Our Future
03 – October Is Mine
04 – Picnic Inferno
05 – Cabal Toyboy
06 – True Life
07 – Reality Reborn
08 – Fusion Illusion
09 – Names On The Wall
10 – Greenback Hunter
11 – Moral Messiah
12 – Embrace My Scars
13 – Even If I Cannot Breathe (Japan bonus track)

Memories Of Time:
01 – Refuge From Reality
02 – Call Of The Wild
03 – Angel’s Eyes
04 – Two Hundred Men
05 – My Only Wish
06 – World’s Child
07 – Take What The Heavens Create
08 – Firebird

Erkki Seppänen – vocals
Akseli Kaasalainen – keyboards
Seppo Kolehmainen – guitar
Rami Keränen – guitar, vocals
Heikki Ahonen – bass
Janne Juutinen – drums

BUY IT !
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/MICP-90096
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