DREAMAKER - Enclosed

Posted: 7/12/05

Reviewed by: Goat

Category: Power Metal

Released: 3/05

Label URL: www.arisemetal.com

Artist URL: www.dreamaker.net

Formed from the ashes of the Spanish band Dark Moor, Dreamaker are an impressive, slightly heavy, and quite talented melodic power metal band.  Following their debut Human Device (2004), on Enclosed they put forth a strong sophomore effort that will surely satisfy most traditional and melodic power metal fans.   Vocalist Elisa Martin has a melodic voice with an aggressive edge that fits the music perfectly.  In fact, given that most bands playing this style of music have a high-pitched male vocalist, and that Dreamaker’s vocals are slightly more mid-ranged than most, on my first listen I didn’t even realize that the vocalist was a female!  When coupled with music that’s also slightly heavier than most bands of this genre, it’s a winning combination.

Lead-off track “I Live My Own Life” sets the tone of the album, incorporating a great melodic riff that’s got just enough aggression to keep a casual fan of keyboard-based power metal interested.  Martin’s vocals are fantastic, finding a great middle range, often getting higher pitched but also incorporating some lower end aggression, and her male band mates provide an aggressive scream or growl when necessary.  The music is tight, and guitarists Albert Maroto and Matias Sosa, like Martin, find that perfect balance of melody and aggression.  For every soaring melody line there’s either a crunchy riff or ripping solo acting as a counter balance, as in “Over the Edge” and “Living in Fear.”  In fact, the solos in “Face to Face” and “Perfect Soul” will satisfy fans of any genre.  The drumming isn’t thrash-fast, but it’s heavy and there are plenty of double bass runs.  Nino Ruiz’s keyboard signature is all over the album, and will be the make or break factor for most listeners.  “End of Suicide” is a good example, which is a forgettable piano-based ballad.  But, they make up for it on “Innocent Blood,” “Promised Heaven,” and the title track, which are faster and heavier songs that still retain melody.  Finally, “Take Me Higher” is perhaps the ‘radio-friendly’ type track that has the catchy chorus. 

The Bloody Truth:   While keyboard-based melodic power metal isn’t really my thing, Dreamaker has the talent and ability to keep someone like me interested.  Elisa Martin’s vocals will appeal to even the most misogynistic member of the “he-man woman hater’s club’ (anyone remember the Little Rascals?).