VARIOUS ARTISTS
"Metal
Dreams Volume 2" (Nuclear Blast)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
Normally, I'd tend to recommend any "Various Artists" CD release, sampler or tribute CD, simply because it's one of the best ways to get to know great bands you may not have heard before.
But I can't do that with "Metal Dreams 2." Even though some truly great bands are featured here, the material included is not what I would call their best stuff. In fact, taken as a whole, "Metal Dreams 2" is kind of boring.
The problem isn't actually in the individual songs but in the entire collection. "Metal Dreams" is apparently a collection of songs that show the slower side of some truly incredible bands. The songs hereon aren't what one would call "ballads" (although that term certainly applies to some), but they are songs that tend to be slower-paced, feature less aggressive guitar, and give the vocalists the chance to really sing.
Each of the 16 songs contained on "Metal Dreams, Volume 2" would probably work fine contained within an individual band's CD, surrounded on both sides by heavier and faster-paced work. Gathered together here, however, they tempt one to reach for the "next" button on the CD player.
Now that I think of it, however, this would make a great record to play on Halloween...
Bands featured on "Metal Dreams 2" (and they really are terrific bands) include: Stratovarius, Iced Earth, Sinner, Helloween, Skid Row, Nightwish, Blind Guardian, Steel Prophet, Lacrimosa, Mr. Big, Sonata Arctica, To Die For, Love Like Blood, Gotthard, Bonfire and Macbeth.
For more information, please visit http://www.nuclearblast.de.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the
cover makes you wanna hurl.
Back to RoughEdge.com home page
Copyright © 2000 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised: 14 Jun 2020 15:11:01 -0400.
