It’s been just over six weeks since being told I am in full remission from chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and I am slowly starting to get back to day to day life. One of those is writing album reviews and this album is just the perfect one to tell you about. It’s by a new metal project DREAMSEEKER and it was started by multi-instrumentalist/singer/song-writer Johannes “Skyblazer“ Frykholm. The project’s lyrics and music are inspired by the themes, characters and the world from the video game Chrono Trigger. The debut album A Trigger In Time Part I sets things off in the most wonderful and curious ways imaginable. Let me explain.
It opens rather daintily with the instrumental ~Intuition~, there’s a level in Final Fantasy IX where they enter the Village Of Dali; a quiet and unassuming village and the music reminds me of that. There is a lot of anticipation and hope for a quest that is yet to come when the key changes. This is one of the first great earworms on this album, you only need to read the name and it’s stuck in your head for ages. Whether it’s the brilliant singles or tracks that have yet to be released, the album is full of the genius earworms.
Medieval Mystery is the first to showcase this with it’s triumphant feel and the nostalgia it brings as it reminds me of the old video games I used to play. Especially when going into the villages to stock up on those all important supplies.
I wondered why Trial sounded like A Nightmare Before Christmas song written by SELLSWORD until I realised their talented vocalist Nathan Harrison provided the vocals and then it made sense. When listening to this track again, you notice the fantastic diction in the lyrics; which is crucial for an important setting like one portrayed in Trial and it’s pulled off spectacularly.
Dreamstone brings Crash Bandicoot to mind with it’s jungle type sounds and xylophone riff, there is a also a hint of The Land Of Mystic Rites by NORTHTALE in there too. There is amazing vocal talent from Dejana Garčević, Anders Sköld, Katy Scary and Narcissa in this adventurous track.
Without giving away too many spoilers, there are tracks that haven’t been released yet that will delight Power metal fans and new listeners alike. A lot of these are also those good earworms I was saying about.
If you ever wondered what a track written by EDGUY and AYREON would sound like, Beyond The Apocalypse will give you a rough idea on what that sounds like. The Edge Of Eternity is the wonderful Bard tale that will have the crowds chanting at live shows; the songs The Sailorman’s Hymn by KAMELOT and BLIND GUARDIAN’s Skalds and Shadows come to mind in the most delightful way. Inside The Masters Keep is the immersive penultimate chapter that will have Power and Prog metal fans rejoicing.
It seems so far that any album by one of Johannes ”Skyblazer” Frykholm’s projects have come at times when I am healing from something and they have given me a much-needed boost. This newest album is no exception. If you love metal opera or memorable melodies that will be stuck in your head for days, then this is an album for you to add to your collection.
Rating: 9/10
Words: Lotty Whittingham
A Trigger In Time Part I is out tomorrow.
Find DREAMSEEKER here.
