Dreamtone is one of the most hardworking bands currently operating in Turkey. Not only have the band's members been busy with their next album Snowfall slated for a 2007 release, they have also collaborated with Greek artist Iris Mavraki on her Neverland project. Without doubt, this disc is going to appeal to lots of prog fans, considering it features full input from Dreamtone, a symphony orchestra, and guest appearances from some of prog's finest singers, including Shadow Gallery's Mike Baker and Evergrey's Tom Englund. Word has it that the recordings of Neverland have been completed and the working title is Reversing Time, so you'd better keep checking the band's website for its release date.
Snowfall is Dreamtone's new single, functioning as a kind of precursor to their upcoming disc, containing only three songs with a total running time of 16 minutes. Of these three cuts, "Pandemonium" is actually a re-worked piece dating back to the band's earliest days when vocalist Oganalp Canatan was still playing guitar. The version on this single, however, is treated to a fully revitalized sound and arrangement, and offers stronger contrasts of dynamic shifts between acoustic and electric guitars, killer drumming, and wonderful twin guitar harmonies. The song being entirely instrumental is testimony to both their instrumental and songwriting abilities (the melodic finish is simply amazing).
On the other two cuts, the band displays their diversity in that the opener "Promised Land" boasts carefully arranged twin guitar work with big vocal harmonies that indicate Oganalp Canatan has improved vastly since their previous album. The timbre in his voice lends the pieces a stronger character and his phrasing is a lot more catchy this time around. The comparatively pronounced bass guitar is underpinned by brief yet powerful piano themes while the great synth and drum combination preceding the rhythmically challenging guitar duel at the end suggests a much more refined and structured sophomore effort. "Snowfall", which I assume will be the title track, explores more acoustic instrumentation inserted into spatial soundscapes littered with both thrashy and smooth guitar runs, amidst a sea of exotic keyboard work and dramatic vocals. There is also a neat guest vocal appearance on this song brought in to harmonise with the main vocals - it works perfectly.
As someone who has followed this band right from their demo days, I am proud to see how much they've progressed. They established their own label; played shows with some of metal's finest bands in metal, including Megadeth, Blind Guardian, and Andromeda; and even enjoyed some guest appearance by Shadow Gallery's Gary Wehrkamp on their debut album Sojourn. These alone attest to their potential, which will hopefully be fully realized if they keep up the good work. Judging by the material on this single, my initial expectation is that Dreamtone will make another step in the right direction.
Track Listing
- Promised Land
- Pandemonium (Re-visited)
- Snowfall
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