My first task here was to get over my initial impression that “The Gift of Life” by Switzerland’s Dreamshade sounds a bit girly. My hang-up, I know, and not everything needs to be about crumbling edges, failed opportunities and ruination. Still, for all I know, this could be what this album could be about. Moreover, the fact that Spinefarm have taken on a band, is like Swiss chocolate or the lion mark on an egg, normally a sign of quality.
“The Gift of Life” is a nice album. It’s essential Scandinavian-style modern melodic metal with colourful riffage. It also sounds like everything you’ve ever heard in this sphere, notably Sonic Syndicate who in turn sound like everyone else. Produced by Jacob Hansen, who is known for work with Volbeat, Mercenary, Raunchy and Hatesphere amongst others, it’s kind of metal by numbers. It has all the ingredients you want in whatever order you want: melody, drive, aggressive vocals, swirling sounds, flowing guitar work, keyboard flourishes, occasional harmonies, soppy chorus lines, the odd break and for the most part pumping energy. Yes, there is energy and the structures are solid. I accept that I am a grizzled old reviewer and tracks like “Old Flame” are more likely to tug at the emotional heartstrings of a younger crowd. I will however give myself and more importantly the band credit for a well-worked arrangement which I was enjoying … then they stop the bloody thing, and it’s back to another energy-packed maelstrom of melodic metalcore mayhem. The latter piece is called “Late Confessions” and although it sounds like almost everything else, I cannot fault it for pulsating energy. Again it stops when there’s more being promised. One thing I did like about this album was the way Dreamshade didn’t start with the template track or incongruous intro. Instead the opener “Photographs” is moody and a clone of Killswitch Engaged, whose influence can be detected frequently and often. But this does not detract from the fact that “Photographs” has real power. As I heard “Elisabeth”, It’s ok but with more breadth, it could be more than “ok”. I realised that the “e” word in this case was emo rather than epic. The last track “Wants and Needs” has good qualities It’s fast, fiery and bouncy but, confirming my impression of the whole album, there’s something missing. Dreamshade seem to constrain themselves as if they don’t feel they’re allowed to explode in epic fury. Maybe they don’t want to. The energy is there but it can blend into the pedestrian.
Although I don’t consider that Dreamshade do themselves justice here, this album still has a lot to offer. I like Soilwork, Sonic Syndicate and bands of that ilk so I like “The Gift of Life”. Don’t expect anything outrageously original though.
(6.5 /10 Andrew Doherty)
www.facebook.com/dreamshadeband
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