Author: Rok Klemše
Artist: Dragonland
Label: Century Media
Release: 2006
It’s been two years since their last release, Starfall, and the time has come for Swedish melodic metallers Dragonland to make their return. They’re back with a new record, Astronomy. Did they pull off a comeback in grand style? Hang in there just a little longer…
The fourth record from this band, formed in 1999, is most likely their best so far. After five years of searching, they’ve finally found their sound. It’s not exactly the most unique, but it’s still an interesting mix of power metal with progressive and, above all, epic symphonic elements. Even though at times they still sound like similar bands (I’m mainly thinking of Dragonforce, Sonata Arctica because of the similarity between Jonas Heidgert’s and Tony Kakko’s vocals, Labyrinth, and even Nightwish, if you ignore the vocals of former singer Tarja), you can’t really hold that against them too much.
The guys obviously needed some time to settle in with their new label, Century Media (after the first two albums, The Battle of the Ivory Plains and Holy War, they left the Greek label Black Lotus Records), because Astronomy is a more complete package than Starfall.
Dragonland successfully steer clear of power metal clichés. What’s especially exciting is that, unlike on the previous record Starfall, where the keyboards got more of the spotlight, the raw sound of the guitars is back up front. Great riffs, supersonic solos that are a bit reminiscent of Herman Li’s racing guitar in Dragonforce, and excellent vocals from Jonas, who has made huge progress since the last record, are the driving force of the new album, backed up by a solid rhythm section and unobtrusive keyboards.
From the hard-hitting opener, Supernova, the warriors from the land of dragons don’t let you catch your breath. With a great, epic symphonic intro to the first track, they whisk us away to a gorgeous world of melody, epicness, melancholy, punch, bombastic and pompous compositions… simply a world of dreams. Cassiopeia is definitely one of the better tracks on the record. A calm intro, backed by an angelic female voice, interrupts the chopping power chords, then Jonas’s vocals join in and you get a truly perfect blend of female and male vocals in this excellent mid-tempo number. In Antimatter they once again show a bit more originality, as the melodic vocals are complemented by harsh death metal growls, which you don’t hear all that often in power metal.
Interestingly, Dragonland decided to continue the epic they started on Starfall and put the fourth part of The Book of Shadows saga on the record. Leaving that one aside, the record doesn’t let up all the way until the lovely ballad Too Late for Sorrow. Plenty of people will complain about the already overchewed combo of female and male vocals, but the ballad works better than on the previous record.
If I’ve been talking in superlatives so far, I unfortunately have to mention the weaker side too. Sadly, it’s precisely the epic 14-minute, three-part closer, The Old House on the Hill. The track, which could easily land on the soundtrack of some horror flick, left me feeling empty. The song isn’t bad at all, far from it, but I expected a bit more. Especially given that they spent five months of work on this one track alone. Then again, tastes differ, and you might well end up loving exactly this piece, inspired by the masters of classical music, the most.
The lyrics also deserve a mention, since in my opinion they’re a fully equal part of the music. Here too Dragonland break away from power metal’s tales of dragons and princesses, as not a single track has a fantasy theme. On the contrary, the themes range from astronomy and Greek myths all the way to contact with extraterrestrial beings.
The effective cover art also pulls its weight, drawn by the talented Niklas Sundin (who has also done artwork for Dark Tranquillity, In Flames and Arch Enemy, for example).
Astronomy is a visceral musical journey through the sonic dimensions of the atmospheric and the majestic. Travel along with Dragonland…
Lineup
Jonas Heidgert: vocals
Olof Morck: guitar
Niklas Magnusson: guitar
Christer Pedersen: bass
Elias Holmlid: keyboards
Jesse Lindskog: drums
Production
Frederik Nordstrom
Tracklist
1. Supernova
2. Cassiopeia
3. Contact
4. Astronomy
5. Antimatter
6. The Book of Shadows Part IV: The Scrolls of Geometria Divina
7. Beethoven’s Nightmare
8. Too Late for Sorrow
9. Direction: Perfection
10. The Old House on the Hill Chapter I: A Death in the Family
11. The Old House on the Hill Chapter II: The Thing in the Cellar
12. The Old House on the Hill Chapter III: The Ring of Edward Waldon
Album length: 52:23
