In the world of Lars Eric Mattsson, more is definitely more. His particular brand of epic symphonic metal has reached new heights with the release of his new album Dream Child, a tough task for someone who's first album was already titled Eternity. Real strings, fake strings, soaring female vocals, ballads, Spanish guitar solos, galloping double bass drums, guitar solos that will give you callous from just listening? Here is the one album that has them all. Surprisingly, that facetious list of symphonic metal clichés is also the list of what makes the album enjoyable. While many groups are content with a narrow style, be it aping Epica, Rhapsody (of Fire), or any other metal archetype, Mattsson, has created a remarkably varied album that almost serves as an encyclopedia of the genre and saves the uninitiated from the mental fatigue that inevitably occurs when you listen to an hour long album of songs in the same style and tempo. New vocalist Adrienn Antal seems to have a limited range, but sings with the conviction of a young Lana Lane. The interplay between guitar and keyboards during "Heart of a Clown" is almost worth the price of admission alone, but there are some facets of this release that leave much to be desired. The backing tracks of the disc's rockers sound distant, as if you were sitting in a ski lift hearing the band play in the valley below. Also, after hearing true to life strings on the opening "Prelude to Life", the synthesized strings that dominate elsewhere turn well written melody lines into unsatisfying digital facsimiles. Production qualms aside though, if you are looking for a good introduction to the world of symphonic metal, this is as friendly a disc as you'll find.
Track Listing
1. Prelude to Life
2. I'm Coming Home
3. Dream Child
4. Killing Everything
5. This is Our Time
6. See the Dreamer Behold
7. Until Our Last Goodbye
8. Moonlight Dream
9. Heart of a Clown
10. Life in the Shadows
11. Heaven and Hell Unite
12. Goodbye
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