DRYAD - Y

Bandcamp is an endless source of talented bands, great productions and amazing albums. Ze Germans DRYAD managed to combine the mentioned characteristics. Never heard before and now I will keep on listening to them.

"Pulsar" opens this album and you get the first impression of what the album will offer you: a dense atmosphere, powerful production, guitar tones between Doom and classic Heavy Metal. A great start that made me already curious for the following tracks. "Meghalaya" tops the first impressing with a powerful voice and a forward pushing doomy rhythm and riffing. "Wayfarer´s Rebirth" leads you with a more proggy touch through 70´s Hardrock to Protometal. "Gaia" is one of the most epic songs I heard since a couple of years... trippy, heavy with mighty guitars, harsh breaks and dynamics and an ongoing tension between the light floating and the heavy parts. "Darvaza"´s highlight are the harmonizing vocals and the almost Post and Shoegaze rock atmosphere. Up to now my favorite song.

"The Devil´s Breath" is another surprising song. It´s surprisingly simply and just forward rocking, the opposite of proceeding "Of Knaves and Fools", which structure reminds me a bit on Savatage. Again a change in timing, tempo and temper: "Overlord"´s lurking round the corner with the perfect dose of speed and breaks. Another great song. "Ludus interruptus" doesn´t fit on this record, a kind of cosmic synthy interlude.

"At the Advent of Dawn" closes this extremely varied album with actually no predictable songs, a constant flow of changing tempi, styles and moods and tempers. Excellent record, excellently produced and an appetizer for future gigs