Author: Rok Klemše
Artist: Dawn Patrol
Release: 2008
We’ve been waiting this long and this impatiently, around here, maybe only for Negligence’s debut, but it’s finally here! The Dawn Patrol EP, Before the Dawn, that is! Why it was so hard to wait for it is crystal clear to anyone who has seen Dawn Patrol on stage even once, but let’s take it from the top. On Before the Dawn the sun rises through four freshly recorded tracks that have already become evergreens of Slovenian metal, and as a bonus the EP also has the folk-song-by-now ditty Rockstar Ate My Hamster.
Across a little under twenty-four minutes of excellent heavy metal seasoned with the occasional thrash/speed riff, a calm opening overture leads us into the mid-tempo wrecking ball Ametist. Right from the start you can clearly hear that the girl and the guys have been diligently geeking out on Iron Maiden, especially in the instrumental interplay, which recalls the best moments of the heavy metal giants. But Maiden were only inspiration for Dawn Patrol, because a clearly defined original direction already comes into focus in the EP’s first moments. Drumming full of dynamic transitions and interesting ideas, a colorful bass foundation, and clean yet razor-sharp guitars are just a fraction of the mosaic Dawn Patrol offer. The five-piece radiates pure energy that adds up to a confident, complete whole – Wuko and Ana form a mighty, bombastic rhythm section, while Jan and Iztok are without a doubt one of the best guitar duos around here, pulling riffs that lodge in your memory instantly and breathtaking solos out of their sleeves, and the clean, melodic lines flow wonderfully too, fitting incredibly well with one of the best vocalists in the country. Aleš’s voice, which at times recalls a young Bruce Dickinson, is truly what takes Dawn Patrol to a whole new level. Crystal clear, distinct, and incredibly powerful, the voice really shines in the mid-range, but it pulls up into the higher parts with ease. The delivery of the lyrics is confident and uncompromising, and Aleš’s approach to the demanding vocal lines is flawless. The tracks Dark Side of Society and Control prove there’s a pinch of prog hiding in the music too, since the structure is lively and complex, full of different tempos and rhythms that still come together as a perfect whole. The first four tracks build tension and escalation nicely, probably peaking in one of the best and most spectacular choruses around, in the track Fortress. A proper chorus, the kind that sticks in your head the moment you hear it, and more than once you’ll catch yourself singing along to the convincing verses at the heart of the track. Fantastic! The EP closes with one of the older tracks, Rockstar Ate My Hamster, with Dyz on vocals, and compared to the rest it nicely shows the progress the band is making, even though Rockstar is an excellent heavy, thrashy track. It’s just a pity there’s no version with Aleš on vocals added, although Dyz does his job more than well. A word on the production, handled by Dyz and Ruzz (Negligence). The rhythm section pounds the way it should, and the bass could maybe be pushed up a little more in the mix, but the warmth and metal sharpness of the two guitars weave together superbly. And soaring over all of it is the indescribably good vocal.
With Before the Dawn, the Slovenian metal discography has only gotten stronger, and Dawn Patrol are a fine showcase of the quality the Slovenian metal scene is hiding. Judging by what we’ve heard, Dawn Patrol aren’t just before the dawn, because the sun rose for them long ago, and if a follow-up in this style is on the way, all we can do is hope the midday sun scorches us soon with a first studio “full-length” record.
Lineup
Aleš – vocals
Jan – guitar
Iztok – guitar
Ana – bass
Wuko – drums
Production
Dyz & Ruzz
Tracklist
1. Ametist
2. Control
3. Dark Side of Society
4. Fortress
5. Rockstar Ate My Hamster
