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The Power Of The Nightstar

    
       
       
       
     
             
Dragonland are a power metal band from Sweden forming in 1999, releasing five albums between 2001 and 2011, followed by a ten year barren spell...which has emphatically come to an end with the release of 'The Power Of The Nighstar' (2022) - a mammoth twelve songs and sixty minutes of melodic power metal with stunning cinematic and symphonic metal elements sewn in.    
             
The energy level residing in 'The Power Of The Nightstar' is incredible - the album getting underway with the two minute atmospheric and highly enticing instrumental 'The Awakening', leading into album opener proper 'A Light In The Dark'. Featuring a heavy mid tempo feel, 'A Light In The Dark' is a majestic march of melodious intent, coupled with the bands gear changing prowess to swap mid tempo swagger for high tempo power. And talking of high tempo power - the speed of 'Flight From Destruction' is phenomenal, reminding me of the early days of power metal when scorching pace was the major feature of the genre. Obviously the power metal style has evolved a lot since then, but there's just something about speedy power metal that's so breath taking!    
             
The cinematic and storytelling aura of the band shines brightly for the elegant stroll 'Through Galaxies Endless' - a hymn-like and anthemic crossover crusade of epic proportions. No head banging here, but definitely a rhythmic swaying from side to side. And by all means continue swaying, for that is what 'The Scattering Of Darkness' asks for - albeit at a more sedate tempo, with the occasional switch to a fast paced gallop. You know - just to keep the head bangers of the world happy. The mix of tempo's and pace has been varied across the albums opening third, making for a very intriguing listen, second guessing the band as to which direction they are gonna run in next. Fast and furious is where - the opening to 'A Threat From Beyond The Shadows' very head bang-able. And as 'A Threat From Beyond The Shadows' progresses, the all consuming feel of old school power metal rises high to the surface, surely planting smiles a mile wide on the faces of fans everywhere!    
             
At two and a half minutes in length, 'Aphelion' is the second shortest song on offer, and the second instrumental on the album too. Featuring a tension filled and haunting atmosphere, 'Aphelion' provides a sparkling lead into 'Celestial Squadron' - a thundering and heavy hitting slab of power metal. Indeed the heaviest hitting song heard so far, 'Celestial Squadron' still features the bands regal majesty and cinematic surround sounding ambience. Which remains in force for the bustling mid tempo 'Resurrecting An Ancient Technology' - adopting a ground shuddering march as it begins to stretch its legs and stride purposefully across the land, all the while holding its head up high.    
             
The title song 'The Power Of The Nightstar' is pure power metal pomp, performed at traditional power metal pace. I mentioned earlier the varied mix of tempo's and pace - the band maintaining their energetic approach to delivering top shelf variation. And to be honest, I would say 'The Power Of The Nightstar' (the song) is one of my two favourite songs off the album. 'Final Hour' keeps the high pace of the previous song, along with a head bang ability not often heard on the album. The pace and power of the 'Final Hour' will keep the mosh pits very happy indeed. The final song 'Journey's End', is also the longest song on offer, clocking in at over nine minutes in length, and featuring guest vocalist Elize Ryd (Amaranthe). And every style the band has in their arsenal is on show here - from epic sweeping passages to a majestic hymn-like march, taking in the anthemic swagger and pulsating punch of traditional power metal too...'Journey's End' is one helluva show stopping finale.    
             
Overall, a varied and enticing mix of fast and mid tempo songs, 'The Power Of The Nightstar' emphatically visits every corner of the power metal genre.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
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