| Musical Style: Metal/Hard Rock | Produced By: Ronnie König & Dream Patrol |
| Record Label: Mighty Music | Country Of Origin: Varies |
| Year Released: 2018 | Artist Website: Dream Patrol |
| Tracks: 12 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 54:38 |
There’s no question were fans of Dream Patrol and its fall of 2018 Mighty Music debut full length Phantoms Of The Past. After all, the group is not without its share of star-studded appeal when factoring bassist Ronnie König (Signum Regis) and vocalist Eli Prinsen (The Sacrificed) grace its line up alongside drummer Radim Večeřa (Drunk With Pain) and guitarists Filip Koluš and Libor Křivák (Signum Regis and Symphonity, respectively). Tracing its origin to 2016 when founded by König, Dream Patrol draws its name from the 80s horror movie A Nightmare on Elm Street, whose plot revolved around a demon-like creature that would attack you while you were sleeping. With Dream Patrol, however, you shall fear no more: it is a special office of combat against mind-invaders, working for you overtime, whenever you put on your headphones and start daydreaming.
Musically, Dream Patrol sidesteps the power metal of König’s and Prinsen’s main bands for a foundation of eighties influenced metal and hard rock with leanings towards classic rock, traditional blues and even some country western twangs. Despite such musical divergences, it works in no small part to the combined efforts of the two. König, of course, continues to bring his at times neo-classical and others improvisational jazzy bass lines and Prinsen his soaring and classic tenor vocal abilities but with a twist. Instead of his trademark high-pitched style, Prinsen sings in a somewhat lower register to better align with the earthier, grittier and at times heavier nature to the Dream Patrol material, at least in comparison to Signum Regis and The Sacrificed.
Consider in this capacity the groups opening signature cut “Dream Patrol”, which I like to think of as classic Dream Patrol in walking a fine line between metal and hard rock in embodying those eighties leanings in question. Regardless of classification, you cannot say the song is not good with an up-tempo demeanor elevated by deliberate bass and all the blithe hooks you could ask.
“Get Back Home”, first of the albums two shorter but faster cuts, is also good. With several seconds of bluesy acoustic guitar to start, it takes off at once to a hard rock guitar riff as Prinsen reaches down to add some grit to his delivery (for the explosive verse sections) but also unveiling the full range to his voice (upon procuring the elevated chorus). Of note is how “Get Back Home” closes its final seconds in similar bluesy fashion.
“Tattooed Millionaire From Panama” is the lone clunker of the bunch. As its title implies, it is a cover ‘mash-up’ combining the song structure of Bruce Dickinson’s “Tattooed Millionaire” with the guitar melody to Van Halen’s “Panama. It does not work (in my opinion) due to fusing two completely different songs that could not be from more opposite spectrums musically. If the group had chosen to cover one of the two separately I might sing its praise, but instead they attempt to do too much and come across a bit flat in the process.
“The Shortest Straw” better aligns with the trademark Dream Patrol sound. What we have is a bluesy hard rocker driven at a weighty mid-tempo clip, which with its seventies influenced organ and thickly weighted low-end draws heavily upon classic rock. The pronounced melody unveiled helps “The Shortest Straw” rank with my album favorites.
Likewise, I rate albums title track as another above the line showstopper. “Phantoms Of The Past” begins its first minute in traditional bluesy form only to morph into an energetic hard rocker, guitars at the forefront and mirroring the brazen but with keyboards elevating the undisguised melody at hand. Multiple instrumental excursions accent the standout guitar team of Koluš and Křivák.
“Lost Child” separates as one of the albums calmest and most laid back. Acoustically driven its length, it also based around classic rock as intelligent bass breathes for the gradual verse sections and inviting vocal melodies adorn the smoothly flowing refrain. Interestingly, some of those as noted country western nuances rear their head, by no means a bad thing (they fit quite well).
“Stand Up And Fight”, second of the shorter cuts, hits hard from the get go with its driving metal riffs placing it among the Phantoms Of The Past heaviest. Tempo is forward as it gets as Prinsen revisits his The Sacrificed days with some well timed (and flattering) reach for the sky falsettos. Lead guitar touches upon the neo-classical.
“Time Is A Healer” joins with “Lost Child” as another easy going and relaxed plodder. If anything, it is even slower as closest of the Dream Patrol material to approach ballad territory, with bass and classical keyboards leading the way as light rhythm guitars play a supporting role. I particularly enjoy the Spanish guitar solo at the mid point.
“Piece Of Paradise” brings the best elements of eighties hard rock: up-tempo guitar riffs, light vocal melodies adorning the catchy refrain and crazy good lead guitar work. Again, you cannot say enough good things about the soloing of Koluš and Křivák, which is why if the group had recorded either “Tattooed Millionaire” OR “Panama”, I would go with the latter. Note that while the two might not give Eddie Van Halen a run for his money, they would give a good account of themselves nonetheless.
Back to mellower territory with “Is That The Thanks I Get?” The song does not back from the quality, as it navigates to acoustic guitar and organ in giving rise to a classic rock essence in which understated melody defines the composed scene. All the while, a full bass line hoists the low end as vestiges of piano carry things to their close.
As its title implies, “Playing With Fire” is another unflagging rocker. The song begins to a classically influenced bass and guitar harmony instrumental opening before taking off, as guitars kick in and lead the full on metal way with keyboards lending an airy effect. Impetus picks up exponentially for the elevated ‘playing with fire, lighting the pyre’ refrain. Instrumentally, things again shine as bass returns at the start to give way to shred lead guitar.
Closing things is six-minute magnum opus “Haunted Tower”. I find it to reflect a darker hard rock feel as opposed to metal, with organ joining the uplifting mid-tempo setting in which layered vocal melodies almost reflect upon a medieval effect. A light progressiveness manifests in the protracted instrumental section ensued by a spoken word portion backed by keyboards and acoustic guitar.
Credit König and Prinsen from backing off from the power metal to Signum Regis and The Sacrificed and pursuing the more diverse musical territory of Dream Patrol. Call it metal and hard rock with an eighties edge, classic rock or even the blues, you cannot say Phantoms Of The Past is not good in light of the quality songwriting. Top cuts for this reviewer include “Dream Patrol”, “The Shortest Straw”, “Phantoms Of The Past”, “Piece Of Paradise” and ”Playing With Fire”, although everything else is solid with possible exception of “Tattooed Millionaire From Panama”. Fans of the musical styles presented or bands to feature Dream Patrol members are strongly recommended to check Phantoms Of The Past out.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Dream Patrol” (4:25), “Get Back Home” (3:34), “Tattooed Millionaire From Panama” (4:31), “The Shortest Straw” (4:03), “Phantoms Of The Past” (4:21), “Lost Child” (4:43),”Stand Up And Fight” (3:35), “Time Is A Healer” (3:58),”Piece Of Paradise” (5:21), “Is That The Thanks I Get” (4:42),”Playing With Fire” (5:23), “Haunted Tower” (6:03)
Musicians
Eli Prinsen - Lead Vocals
Filip Koluš - Guitars
Ronnie König – Bass & Programming
Radim Večeřa – Drums
Additional Musicians
Libor Křivák - Guitars
Ray LeGrand - Recorder
Maestro Mistheria - Keyboards
David Akesson - Backing Vocals
Herbie Langhans - Backing Vocals
