It's been 16 years since the world has heard from Swedish act Quicksand Dream, but they've quietly crawled out from under the rock they've been hiding and have a new album for Cruz Del Sur titled Beheading Tyrants. The band is comprised of Patrick Backlund (Bass, Guitars, Keyboards) and
Göran Jacobson (Vocals), with a few guests contributing drums for the recording of the album. At barely over 30 minutes, Beheading Tyrants is more of an EP, and you would think after so much time away from the scene the guys would have had more material to present, but what is here continues on with their style of classic metal that pays tribute to bands like Cirith Ungol, Fates Warning, Candlemass, and Manilla Road. With a mix of melancholy, somewhat plodding songs and more upbeat tracks, it's the latter that really work here, like the excellent "The Girl From the Island", complete with rumbling bass lines and plenty of tasty lead guitar work, and the crunchy, epic metal sounds of "Cloud of Screams". The remainder of the songs tread in moodier waters, faint hints of Black Sabbath styled doom mixed with elements of prog and the NWOBHM, with standouts being the majestic "The Shadow that Bleeds" and the heavy "White Flames on Black Water".
If vintage sounding early '80s styled heavy metal is your thing, there's plenty to recommend here on Beheading Tyrants, but my guess is you'll wish there was more on display. Hopefully Quicksand Dream won't disappear on us for another extended hiatus this time around.
See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!
Track Listing
1. Daughters of Eve 05:12
2. Cloud of Screams 03:15
3. The Shadow That Bleeds 05:40
4. The Girl from the Island 03:32
5. White Flames on Black Water 06:06
6. To Kill Beneath the Sun 07:35
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