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Dragonsclaw: Prophecy

Think Australian rock music and you think symphonic power metal don't you? No? Me neither! However aiming to change that for good are Dragonsclaw, who, using the template carved by the likes of Kamelot, Judas Priest, Jag Panzer, and a twist of Symphony X, have cooked up an energetic, muscular debut album. If you were looking to be critical (although when the results are as surprisingly convincing as Prophecy, then why would you?), it would be fair to suggest that Dragonsclaw stick just a bit too closely to the tried and tested. However with a more than capable vocalist in the shape of Kiwi, Giles Lavery, and an amazingly tight guitar/keyboard pairing of Ray Martens and Ben Thomas, the likes of "Defenders Of The Skies", "Darkness Within" and "Life Through Anubis Eyes", manage to take on a life of their own. The songwriting itself is sharp, with the conglomeration of ripping guitars, pompous keyboard, orchestration (courtesy of bassist Aaron Thomas) and Alcides Stowe's manic, yet precision drumming, hitting the spot. The completely over the top "The Unknown Horizon" being the perfect vehicle for blistering fret bursts, vocals screeches and chest beating howls, whereas the modern Maiden like "Revolutionary Suicide" offers up a little more gravitas than most of the 100 mile a minute fare that makes up the rest of this album.

While you could possibly expect a band from the "outback" to be slightly behind the times, Prophecy feels bang up to date, with a glistening, grinning production being as sharp as it is deadly, something from which this album benefits greatly. However it really is the combination of great performances and crackling, energetic songs that makes this an album that rises above those from the majority of bands operating in a genre that becomes more and more cluttered as every day goes on.

Prophecy comes from a planned series of new band releases under the banner "Rising Force" that will begin to see the light of day through Arkyen Steel Records. If the rest of the acts in the series turn out to be as classy as Dragonsclaw, then prepare for a true metal-fest!


Track Listing
1. Darkness Within
2. Fight For Your Life
3. Angels In White
4. Defenders Of The Skies
5. Prophecy Is A Lie
6. Life Through Anubis Eyes
7. Rising Power
8. Devils Fiery Dance
9. The Unknown Horizon
10. Revolutionary Suicide

Added: June 23rd 2012
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Dragonsclaw Online
Hits: 1968
Language: english

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