1967/ 1976
Neoclassical Heavy Power Metal. This is the correct genre of this album, played and composed by Dream Child, a great and unfortunately band.
In first plan I think that two words about musicians are obligatory: Gerard Fois is a great singer, the style is similar to Ronnie James Dio but with Ian Gillan and Rob Halford in the mind (I love this mix) and for this fact power and feeling is in first plan. Dominique Leurquin is a great axeman with Alvin Lee, Ritchie Blackmore and Jimmy Page in mind but also with Jeff Beck. Great in the use of harmonics has a very fluent and natural style. Alain Blanc must have studied Jorg Michael and Cozy powell! But his style is closer to jazz, not because jazz lovers but, rather, if you listened carefully, because his natural style. Sylvain Cochet is the bassist. A great rhythmic man.
The music is not a mix of Helloween, Maiden and Priest with Manowar and Rainbow but an evolution of Rainbow and Purple in Speed Metal territories. Distinctive touch is the insertion of Jazz Rock in the arrangements. The sound is aggressive but, at the same time, melodic. Interesting is the fact that the technique is in the first plan. But the flow so naturally the music does not refer to abstruse things. In this sense in my mind another band that shaping the style of Dream Child is Grave Digger, for the style of some guitar riffs. Another point of force of this album is that Dream Child style is close to Prog Metal but isn't Prog Metal (strange to say that it is positive, given that 90% of revival power [classic metal] of the 90's going in this direction. But here is very positive). "Fly Again" is a great power ballad, that have emotions in first plane. And if "Shade On Your Sun" is a great Prog Metal song, the rest of this album is in Neoclassical Power Metal field with strong connection to Speed Metal.
So, if you love the emotional field of Power Metal Dream Child is another band for you. Because remember: "Fly Again" "To Our Dreams"!