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Cloudscape: Global Drama

Global Drama is the third release from Sweden's Cloudscape, a stunning display of melodic progressive metal that will instantly appeal to fans of Pagan's Mind, Kamelot, Circus Maximus, and Pathosray. If you thought that 2006's Crimson Skies was good, you are really in for a treat here. Plenty of sizzling guitar solos & crunchy riffs abound from Bjorn Eliasson & Patrik Svard, and with the powerful vocals of Mike Andersson, intricate rhythms, and lots of symphonic keyboards, Global Drama is a CD you won't want to miss.

Opener "Mind Diary" starts things off in grand fashion, power metal rhythms supporting a host of massive riffs, keyboards, and plenty of catchy vocal melodies. From here, you get treated to one memorable cut after another, the soaring melodies sure to please the most picky melodic metal lover, but there's tons of tricky progressive metal moments and symphonic elements for the prog crowd. "Darkest Legacy" is just great, catchy, complex prog-metal, Andersson pulling in a wonderful vocal, and expect lots of tasty guitar solos, while "Cloak & Daggers" is simply a symphonic metal treat, somewhere along the lines of Kamelot or Nightwish, complete with loads of orchestral synths and squealing pinch harmonics from the two guitar aces. The more aggressive "Paid in Blood" sees the band digging deeper into speedier rhythms and chugging guitar riffs, while the darker and more atmospheric "The Silence Within" brings to mind Evergrey at times. Again, the vocal melodies are just wonderful, and the dark synth tones just add to the overall dramatic effect.

Other highlights include the two epic numbers "Alagoas" and "Eyes of Jealousy", the majestic ballad "Fragile", and the quirky, complex prog number "Ritual of the Blade". The truth is, there's not a weak track here, Cloudscape putting together a very strong work from start to finish. Once you catch a glimpse of the amazing artwork from Mattias Noren that adorns this CD, you'll instantly be pulled in, ready to be enveloped by the powerful sounds that Global Drama has to offer. Now that the band is on Roastinghouse Records/Golden Core Sweden, a division of Universal Music, can wider recognition be far away? Let's hope not-this band deserves the attention of the masses.


Track Listing
1 Mind Diary
2 Darkest Legacy
3 Cloak & Daggers
4 Paid in Blood
5 The Silence Within
6 One Silent Moment
7 Alagoas
8 Static
9 Fragile
10 Eyes of Jealousy
11 Ritual of the Blade
12 Justice

Added: February 8th 2010
Reviewer: Pete Pardo
Score:
Related Link: Band's MySpace Page
Hits: 7342
Language: english

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» SoT Staff Roundtable Reviews:

Cloudscape: Global Drama
Posted by Butch Jones, SoT Staff Writer on 2010-02-08 08:09:54
My Score:

*****This is a review of the 2009 reissue of Global Drama by Nightmare Records******


Again, the damn Swedish! Yet another band that has flown under my radar, the majestic and still quite metallic, Cloudscape. And thanks to Nightmare Records and their re-release of the Swedish quartet's 2007 mammoth record, Global Drama, we all get a 2nd chance to realize the greatness that is contained within these 12 songs, tracking in at an hour's worth of modern Prog Metal goodness.

Global Drama is filled with glorious vocals from frontman Mike Andersson, while the shimmering and stellar guitar riffage and lead work are provided by Björn Eliasson and Patrik Svärd as well as a super tight rhythm section, bassist Haynes Pherson and drummer Roger Landin (both since replaced by bass player Håkan Nyande and drummer Fredrik Joakimsson) that locks everything down in place. Global Drama is easily a thinking man's metal record with thoughtful lyric's, intricately woven piano/keyboard passages with thick, groove laden guitar riffs all done with a big melodic sensibility that shapes everything into place. Cloudscape is about the song first and not the individual performance, as is the case with some of their modern day contemporaries. There is something here for everyone on Global Drama, from the thumping elegance of "Eyes of Jealousy", to the tour de force and excellent chorus of "Ritual of the Blade" that will get stuck in your head, to the Middle Eastern feel and use of the Sitar on the epic "Cloak & Daggers", Cloudscape simply don't disappoint.

If you are a fan of Modern Prog Metal, then Cloudscape will be a band that you won't be able to get enough of. Powerful, dramatic and tasty, the re-release of Global Drama is a 2nd chance for those like me who hadn't heard of or had the chance to check out these guys before. With big sweeping choruses and crunchy guitar rhythms throughout the 12 track CD, how can you go wrong? Think Rage for Order Queensryche meets Communic meets Symphony X and you'll get what I mean. This is a Progressive Metal piece of art.


» Reader Comments:

Cloudscape: Global Drama
Posted by Steve Clements on 2008-09-30 07:00:23
My Score:

Agree 100% with the review. This is an awesome album...certainly worthy to be a contender in the Top 5 list for 2008. Big step forward from the last 'Crimson Skies' CD, bigger production, bigger sound, more epic and bombastic, more progressive,more riffs and awesome solos - but not the long 'out of context' type.
The rhythm section, particularly the drums are fantastic, tight and just technical enough to add some great fills whilst driving the songs along. The songs are as melodic as ever but the structures are great with timechanges all over the place to keep the listener interested and wondering what's next. The 2 longer tracks are stand out tracks but there are no fillers on this CD...67 mins of powerful ,exciting and melodic pregressive/power metal. Totally recommended!

Cloudscape: Global Drama
Posted by Bobby Lisanti on 2008-08-19 22:17:45
My Score:

I totally agree this is Cloudscapes best album by far of the 3. The textures, the production, the guitar work and of course Mike Anderssons vocals make this a "Must Have" in your prog metal collection for 2008!




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