Band: Dreyelands
Album title: Rooms of Revelations
Label : Lion Music
Distributor : Lion Music - Bertus
Release date: 17/04/2010

Dreyelands (a metal band from Hungary of all places) formed in 2003 and only released their first work back in 2007, a promotional EP entitled "Can't hide away". Anno 2010 they finally managed to release their debut album "Rooms of Revelations". Overall their sound can be categorised under melodic prog metal but some tracks are more power metal flavoured. Well you can say it is a mixture of both with some 80' hardrock influences.
I guess Dreyelands are pretty hot in their homecountry by now ...so the question is will "Rooms of Revelations" be their breakthrough album on the international metal scene.

"Rooms of Revelations" tells the story of a schizophrenic man, a Jekkyl & Hide character. I am not going to reveal anything of the story itself except that each track brings you closer to the cruel truth.

On the opening track "Entering" you hear footsteps, fumbling of keys and a door being opened...you already guessed it… you just entered the first room called "Seek of Salvation". This song picks up the melody from "Entering" and the schizophrenic journey begins. Musically "Seek of Salvation" reveals the sound of Dreyelands: heavy guitar riffs, great melodies and you will agree that Nikola has a very powerfull voice. On the next track "Can't Hide Away" we first get a few solo's before Nikola voice take the upperhand again.  While the first 2 tracks were more power metal oriented "Pretending" is 100%  prog metal. Impressive guitar/synt solo that slowly but steadily reaches a climax. "Fragments" (one of my favorites) has a furious start and really kicks ass but it remains melodic thanks to the excellent vocal work. The first 20 seconds of "Way to you" slightly reminded me of Iron Maiden but it remains below my expactations. "Blossoms of Decay" is by far the most emotional track on the album. (Nikola Mijic voice is just amazing). Near the end of the song guitar and drums take over and slides  us to the next room. "Vain" is another powerfull prog song with several unexpected twists and turns. Nikola proofs again how important he is for the band. As we are approaching the end of album we also will come to discover how the story unfolds. In "Leaving Grace" Dreyelands kicks ass a final time.

This is a very strong debut album and I can only hope they reveal their next album in the near future

90/100

Filip Van de Gaer.