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This Is My World
by Antti Mattila, Soundi Magazine (Finland)
On their stunning new album THIS IS MY WORLD Dyecrest rocks you, shocks you and makes your
fingers bleed on the fretboard of an imaginary guitar you end up soloing with before the nearest
mirror. But it was too damn close this brilliant album remained banished for all eternity.
After the well received debut album THE WAY OF PAIN and successful European tour with W.A.S.P.
and DragonForce the future seemed rosy for rising Finnish heavy metal stars Dyecrest. The European
audiences had just experienced this hungry young band letting loose their furious and skilful presence
on stages across the continent. Then things started to roll rapidly downhill. The ludicrous record
company hassle culminated with big boys' money saving operation and Dyecrest got shot down from
a certain rise to fame. That one they could handle because offers from other record labels came
flying in but, more alarmingly, it started to seem that changes in the line up would be necessary.
Problems with vocalist Janne Oksanen occurred and things got to a point where Dyecrest, always
eager to get to the next level, had to give him marching orders after the most difficult decision of their
careers.
Never the ones to give in Dyecrest became even more determined. It took thousands of curse words,
hundreds of beers and many hours in the hottest possible sauna with a couple of dead serious
conversations at their practise room before they were ready to go on. And the solution was lurking
behind the corner. Kimmo Blom, an old friend of the band, best known from his backing vocal
acrobatics on Stratovarius and Thunderstone albums, was asked to audition and from the very first
moment Kimmo started to sing, the band were hitting the nail again. They had negotiated a deal with
Dockyard1 and the first thing Kimmo had to do was to get ready for the recordings of the second
Dyecrest assault.
It was a step towards the unknown which hopefully creates some freshness to the songs on the
album. There are remarkably good spirits in the band right now, I have been able to throw in ideas
from day one. On the other hand I have been learning a lot because the musical concept is precisely
thought over, explains Kimmo.
It?s a worn out cliché to say that on the new album the heavy parts are heavier and the soft parts
even more peaceful and serene but with THIS IS MY WORLD it needs to be stated. Dyecrest
operates on a larger scale now than on the debut album.
The songs are more mature this time around and although they are not necessarily simpler from a
playing point of view, all the unnecessary bits and pieces have been cut away. It's more to the point,
basically. On European tour we had more fun playing the songs that have more rough edge to them
and our attitude mirrored to the audience as well. Of course it gave a huge boost to the new album,
Niko points out.
THIS IS MY WORLD is a combination of modern heavy metal (Lars Ulrich would use the word
'pounding' in here!) and chameleon-like vocals which bring in mind the best parts of the eighties
hard and heavy rock. Stand out tracks like the album opener 'Fight Fear With Fire' with it's pulsating
heaviness and 'Rush Of Life' with it?s shamelessly poppy elements and catchy chorus which starts
to hammer in the head instantly are the proofs of Dyecrest's ability to update their sound. 'Dream
Of Crown' makes you believe it's one of those muddy half-ballads, until Pirkka Ohlis screams in
agony and the song gets a whole new approach. 'Took My Will To Feel' shows Dyecrest at their most
vulnerable state of mind. This naked ballad was born in the studio with Blom's capability of creating
memorable melodies on the spot. But when Henri Arola, or 'Arola- The Artist' as the rest of the band
calls him, bursts into a soloing mode you better take a seat and enjoy. Colourful solos fly like fireworks
up in the dim sky and eerie harmonies leave you gasping for air. And before you even notice, Arola
has taken off on another trip on his personal Milky Way.
All guns blazing, as always!
Line Up: Kimmo Blom: vocals - Pirkka Ohlis: guitar - Henri Arola: guitar - Matti Pasanen: guitar -
Jukka Matilainen: bass - Niko Takala: drums |
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