RGG April 2016 - p.15
Album:
The New Dawn
www
Dakesis com
Verdict:
Birmingham progressive power metal
band
Dakesis
release
The New Dawn
. A
thirteen track concept album, marking a vast and
welcome change in direction from their debut
Trial by Fire
. It's bigger, bolder and a more
versatile release. Highlights include
The Great
Insurrection
including some of the finest,
smoothest and inspiring guitar shredding work
I've heard in ages.
Judgement Day
is definitely
the strongest, most commercial song here with
its Mike Oldfield style epicness and clocking in
at just over 3 minutes is perfect for radio - a
flawless tune which could make Dakesis a
household name if they push it. Instrumental
Meridian
plays like a Danny Elfman score with
its intelligent fulgurous movie-like structure.
Some songs such as
New Dawn
and
Autumn
for
example, sound aimed at the Evanescence
crowd, but Dakesis is darker, a lot more
majestic, sophisticated and without being rude,
musically steam-rolls over Amy Lee and Ben
Moody making them look like flat midgets. Let's
not forget to mention
The Seventh Sky
which is
a brave 18 minute masterpiece. There's tunes
you'll love but this is more than just a band
release; it's such a well made album that it hurls
Dakesis into a commanding level of
professionalism. Take them very seriously.
DAKESIS
Verdict:
You are hooked from the opening
guitar riff of this 4 track EP titled
Little Angel
by
Birmingham band
Devils
. Title track starts off
like a Cobain rehearsal room eureka moment
then when the band kicks in you're addicted to
the crisp, clear but dirty pop sound. Then after
some extremely catchy vocal melodies,
Devils
shape-shift again, sounding like
NOFX
and
Dead Kennedys
on half-speed and it's
wonderful. This comes across as post grunge
but duelling the more edgy side of pop punk with
arguably a very strong sense of Weezer wit.
Keeping in mind that this EP only offers 3 songs
plus an acoustic version of
Little Angel
, the band
make it very clear that they have a strong song-
writing style, and it's addictive. One example is
Clumsy Git
, a tongue in cheek tune coming
across as very British and punk, but on creating
their memorable pop choruses they fly into a
more American, more Lit, mode of writing.
Little
Angel
is probably one of my favourite songs
now, it made me want to pick up a guitar and
sing. Not many songs have that impact on me.
Worth your time.
DEVILS
EP:
Little Angel
www
twitter com/devilspunkrock
album
month
of
the
ep
month
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NICK
J TOWNSEND
