It has been 5 years since Dreamscape’s latest effort, “5th Season”, which was amazing. After many complications and the announcement that the album would be released in 2009 finally “Everlight” has been released on 22.04.2012. The big problem seemed to be the singer position and in the end 9 singers appear on the new record. Musically the band remains faithful to its roots, despite its many lineup changes; the guitarist, founder and main composer, Wolfgang Kerinnis, is the only member of the band who is permanent.
The band stays in the paths of traditional progressive metal, in the likes of Queensryche, Dream Theater and Fates Warning. You can also hear more dynamic playing in the veins of progressive-power metal like Symphony X. So there is everything a prog metal heart desires; instrumental craziness, orchestral bombast, dynamic drumming, amazing solos on guitars and keyboards, crispy bass lines and great hymn singing.
Secret star of the album is keyboard player, David Bertok, who also plays in Subsignal. He is, with his amazing imaginative variable playing, the best partner for guitarist, Wolfgang Kerinnis. He was also involved in the songwriting of the album. He wrote, for example, the ballad of the year and title-track “Everlight”.
Except for the title track, the album has one more track which blows you away. “A Matter Of Life Transforming” which is a track over ten minutes long and all singers appear on this song and so reminds you a little bit of Ayreon. Besides that song, “Violet Flame Forever”, the happy song “One” and “Mental Journey” are probably the highlights of the album. “The Calm Before The Storm” and “Refugium in Db-Major” are the two instrumental tracks of the album that may sound to some people a bit irrelevant but have some great melodies in it.
The idea to use so many singers in one album is surely a successful effort. Besides, Arno Menses, Oliver Hartman and Mike Dimeo give great performances. Also Dilenya Mar is responsible for some quiver moments on the album. The music of the album is great; Kerrinis’ guitars together with Bertok’s keys are giving the singers great ground, who are giving afterwards the final and great touch to it.
“Everlight” is overall a great album from Dreamscape. For me not their best but still great. They are presenting us great progressive metal in a traditional way, that will also please very much the melody-loving listeners so give it a shot.