DREAMSHADE LIVE REVIEW

Switzerland's melodic death metal surprise of the year, Dreamshade, has been busy promoting their latest amazing album “The Gift Of Life” (released in early 2013 through Spinefarm Records) with several shows across Europe and also in the US.

After a long series of shows they headed to Milan, Italy as well to give an awesome performance on Saturday October 5th with the support of some interesting local acts. Dreamshade's performance started about 20 minutes after midnight. They immediately started off on a heavy scale with the opener “Sandcastles”, showing from the very first moment the perfect execution of an incredibly intense performance. Shortly after they played their main single “Photographs” for one of the most touching moments of the night. The live rendition of the song was simply amazing. Especially the guitar playing on stage was clean and spectacular, bringing an even more extraordinary sound than the studio version (which is really saying something). The rest of the band gave a flawless performance as well. The vocalist's moves and gestures were really entertaining and powerful, giving a stunning live presence and great singing.

They continued their set playing mostly more recent tunes including other singles off of “The Gift Of Life” (“Consumed Future” and “Your Voice”) but also songs taken from their previous album, including “Wild Awake”, which ended their set. After that they came back on stage for a funny, final encore with a cover of Vanessa Carlton's “A Thousand Miles” which got the audience laughing, moving, and yelling hilarious blasphemies.

This is most definitely a band worth checking live. Especially if you'd like to ear some well-performed melodic death metal. If you don't believe me, take a look to the video footage of “Photographs” played that night at the show!

- MATTIA
__________________________________________________________________________________

Setlist:
Intro
Sandcastles
Miles Away
Photographs
Wants & Needs
Consumed Future
DeGeneration
Late Confessions
Your Voice
Wide Awake
Encore: A Thousand Miles (Vanessa Carlton Cover)
__________________________________________________________________________________ 

Links: Facebook // Official Website // Twitter // iTunes

DREAMSHADE "THE GIFT OF LIFE" ALBUM REVIEW

I must confess I literally fell in love with this band. These guys are just too good! In my opinion, "The Gift Of Life" (brought to you by Spinefarm Records) is one of the best melodic death metal albums to be released in the past couple years. Through this intelligent, high quality music, Dreamshade have revived a genre. They made it modern, noble, mighty, and beautiful again.

The whole album plays out like a lively daydream. It's strongly supported and carried on by intense, deep singing, delivered by highly talented Kevin Calì, who's capable of pulling off awesome harsh and clean vocals. His versatile ability might remind you of an early Phil Labonte or Björn Strid. The rest of the band delivers too. With incisive, fast drumming, precise and agile without being dispersive, "Sera" Chiommino follows through the amazing guitar riffage provided by "Fella" Di Cicco and Rocco Ghielmini, bringing magic sounds and unforgettable melodies. And you can't forget about Ivan Moccia with the rumble from down under.

The album is opened by the first single, "Photographs", which should be relatively well known by now. It's a beautiful song which can fully show you the amazing skill of this band and how wonderful their music can be. Especially the first half manifests this album as the masterpiece it actually is. After "Photographs", you'll find other awesome tracks like "Your Voice", the title track "The Gift Of Life", "Sandcastles" and the second single "Consumed Future". After a small, well-placed break with the song "Our Flame", it starts again with "Late Confessions", one of the heaviest song on the album and then it goes on till the phenomenal ender, "Wants & Needs".

This album might be rememberd as a new milestone in the genre. Either way, it will definetly compete with Soilwork for the title of best melodic death metal release of the year.

Among hundreds of scene-core band sounding all the same with fake and mechanical music, bombastic production and autotunage like there's no tomorrow, this band brings an enormous and outstanding amount of talent and passion. They most definitely deserve the recognition they're getting through the success of this sophomore album. brought to you by Spinefarm Records, an authentic and surprising work from a swiss band, sounding like they're swedish, singing in english but also speaking italian. Fall in love with their music, now!

- MATTIA

Links: Facebook // Twitter // iTunes

DREAMSHADE "CONSUMED FUTURE" MUSIC VIDEO / ALBUM STREAM

Coming out of Switzerland, Dreamshade have been making waves throughout the metal underground with their fresh take on Melodic Death Metal. These guys are making a very strong case to be one of the genre's premiere groups. The band recently released a music video / single, "Consumed Future" in support of their upcoming full-length, "The Gift Of Life". Great stuff. The album will be released January 25th but the whole thing is already available for streaming. Watch the music video along with another one for the single "Photographs" and give the album a good listen below!

Links: Facebook // Twitter // iTunes // Album Stream