Dreamtale – Epsilon

Album of the week is not necessarily an album review, nor the album presented a new release, but it's something that has impressed lately, for whatever reason we say.

Dreamtale's Epsilon may be picked up for two reasons: firstly, it is a particularly good album to be an album of just any week. Secondly, it was officially released in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Benelux countries a few days ago by Rock It Up Records. Although the album was first released in Finland in 2011, its release in the aforementioned European countries is remarkable as well. While I'm looking forward to their next album and hopefully a lot of gigs in local bars here, I also wish the guys could gain success abroad as well – they have all the potential.

And what makes Epsilon so fancy? It's Power with a capital, Erkki Seppänen's magnificent power metal voice and Rami Keränen's grand and creative compositions, backed up by a talented band. And by saying "particularly good" I meant "particularly strong" – none of the ten songs on the album are weak. Lack of speed doesn't add to the lack of strength, and while some tracks—such as Angel Of Light—keep releasing energy right from the very first second, others build it up for a bit longer to be released later, like Lady Of A Thousand Lakes or Reasons Revealed. And something has to be said: the combination of energetic and vigorous (guitar) melodies and moments of nearly perfect silence works very well.

The album has many songs which make awesome live songs too – so many of them are likely to set you in motion one way or another, whether you feel like banging your head or even dancing. (Yes, Epsilon has actually dominated the playlist I listen to when exercising.) One of the most ingenious parts is the C one of Fly Away, being something that reminds one of something else but metal, but is still very... metal. And most melodies are just simply very catchy and nice. Firestorm opens up both gigs and the album equally well, Where Eternal Jesters Reign has excellent synthesizers and backing vocals, Mortal Games rules with its interesting drums and chorus.

Hopefully Dreamtale's next album will be at least something equally stunning – and if it's much better, it has to be something... woah.