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Dream Alive

      
         
         
         
     
             
Excalion are a power metal band from Finland forming in 2000 and releasing two demos over the next three years. 2005 saw the release of the bands debut album, with two more released over the next five years. Not much was heard from the band for a number of years, until they re-emerged in 2017 with a new single, a new album and a new singer.    
             
Always a daunting time for any band changing their singer, but for Excalion, it is a kind of rebirth...an injection of new, fresh energy, with 'Dream Alive' a glorious return to the metal scene. An epic and atmospheric opening, courtesy of 'Divergent Falling' sees the album rocket out of the blocks, foot stomping its way aggressively across the airways. Reminiscent of the popular European style of power metal, 'Divergent Falling' is raucous, rampant and catchy. The first single off the album, 'Centenarian' is a much heavier romp, with a prominent keyboard led sound, and a cracking melodic metal style vocal delivery from the bands new singer. Great guitar work too and the rhythm just rumbles on, what a barnstorming opening. 'Marching Masquerade' introduces an anthemic feel, invoking a heavy foot tap and a swaying head nod, as it strides on by. Screaming keyboards and screeching guitars breathe life into the speed metal tinged 'Amelia'. Delivered at pace, 'Amelia' will please the head bangers around the globe as seriously frenetic head banging is the only style of head banging associated with this song.    
             
The heavy, chugging style of melodic metal is rampant as 'Release The Time' swaggers on and is a glorious example of catchy heavy rock. Everything Exaclion do is delivered with passion and pride, the album chimes in at just over the hour mark, contains eleven songs and is worth every minute of your listening time. Speed metal returns in the shape of 'One Man Kingdom', a galloping rage of blazing guitars and thunderous drums. With its one hundred percent sing a long-able chorus and a rhythm so memorable you'll be humming it for ages long after you've finished listening, 'One Man Kingdom' is a major highlight off the album. All pace and power drop to be replaced by sole keyboards and a mellow vocal delivery as 'Deadwater Bay' gets underway, to be replaced by the heavy anthemic sound that legendary American power metal band Manowar made famous. 'The Firmament' is one the best power ballads you will ever hear. So much passion, so much power, outstanding vocals and superb musicianship, 'The Firmament' bristles with electricity.    
             
'Man Alive' returns the album to the galloping power metal that is the signature sound of Excalion. Keyboards and guitars flash by in a furious flurry with the pulsating rhythm a joy to listen to. Addictive and immediate, Excalion are masters of the power metal romp. 'Living Daylights' slows the pace and introduces a Black Sabbath-esque feel as it strides into sight, before it becomes a very heavy, very hard hitting mid tempo melodic metal march. Every song on the album is catchy, happy mood inducing and it comes as a huge surprise that the fifty minute mark has been reached and there is only one song left. And what a song...an eleven minute epic that straddles the hard rock, heavy metal and symphonic genres, not forgetting of course, the power metal genre. Similar in style to the epic songs that legendary and iconic British stalwarts Iron Maiden are great at, 'Portrait On The Wall' has atmosphere, catchiness and superb musicianship. Meandering on its way, 'Portrait On The Wall' is memorable for all the right reasons and is a brilliant end to a brilliant album.    
             
Overall, hard hitting power metal, full of catchy and addictive songs with superb melodic moments, this album is destined to be replayed time and time again.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
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