The theory is good. Dragonland were a Power Metal production line, releasing four albums between 2001 and 2006. I have heard “Astronomy” (2006) and liked it very much. Now, 5 years on, the game plan has changed. The aim was to explore themes around “Dragonland”, a fantasy realm, and create an album based on mythological tales and enhancing classic sounds. The resultant album is “Under the Grey Banner”. From the description it sounded like core Power Metal territory to me, but it isn’t as uni-directional as that. Allow me to explain.
After what seemed an age of epic orchestral music and a spoken introduction to the second track “Shadow the Mithril Mountains”, the Power Metal starts to flow. All the attributes are there: speed, melody, rampant guitars and drums, clear and high-in-the-range vocals, more speed. This galloping track is enjoyable but suggests that little has changed, if we’re worried about that at all. Maybe this is to put us in our comfort zone and possibly in the band’s comfort zone too. “The Tempest” is more epic and expansive, and constitutes a song rather than a Power Metal template. It’s a good song too, well sung with a good control of pace, clichéd perhaps but there’s an excellent heart-rending violin passage and as it ends interestingly with sound of lapping water, I reflected that the track has power and depth. Then it’s back to rampant Power Metal on “A Thousand Towers White” but it slows down momentarily and presents a more orchestral and serious face. Ah, the first guitar solo. Then we return to the familiar Power Metal rhythm. It’s slightly predictable but just fine. “Fire and Brimstone” has a dramatic feel and certainly has both epic and dark qualities but it was artificial. It was so smooth at the edges that I felt myself sliding off the side. The drama never caught up with me. It was in my face but all the action was happening on a stage somewhere. May I come in, please? The imagination is within the material but there’s nothing left for the listener to imagine.
We reach the half way point after the lively and competent but unexceptional “The Black Mare”. Then finally Dragonland go beyond the limited boundaries they seem to have set themselves with “Dûrnir’s Forge”. Its excellence comes from its aura. It is also different. This track is a distinctive combination of Celtic Power Metal with an enrapturing drum beat, great progression and a mystical quality. This was by far the best track of the album for me. “The Trials of Mount Farnor” is a good, war-like song but suffers as many before it from trying to be over-dramatic. After “Throne of Bones”, a rather soulless piece of orchestral Power Metal, the mood changes and you could be forgiven for thinking you’re at a musical. I’m not sure how many Metal lovers want this. For the same you could always go to see “The Lion King” if you wanted. Title track “Under the Grey Banner” continues in a mock dramatic orchestral vein. A dreary song arises from it. It livens up a bit, then heads into fast orchestral Power Metal “drama”. It’s not very interesting, I’m afraid. If this highlights the new Dragonland, I can categorically say I prefer the old version which gave us good old-fashioned Power Metal with interesting twists and melodies and no pretensions. “Ivory Shores” closes the album and ends the “drama” with a reflective and pompous female-led song. In fact I’m not sure there wasn’t a song like this in “The Lion King”. I liked the sound of the seagulls on this track but not a lot else. I just couldn’t see what Dragonland were trying to achieve here.
Power Metal clearly infects the blood of those who compose it. I’m glad it does, because in its pure form it can be very exciting. Dragonland are good at Power Metal but here have set out to achieve something extra. They did manage this on their previous album “Astronomy” which has a number of invigorating songs. “Under the Grey Banner” has many good points and enjoyable moments too but for large parts it gets washed away in anonymity and a lack of direction. The intent isn’t clear and I would argue that the band hasn’t gone far enough in their aspiration to do something different. This is indeed symphonic and orchestral fantasy Power Metal but it lands in a no man’s land between unconvincing structures and over-dramatisation. The passion and excitement seem to have been swallowed up in the mixing process and I felt left out of the process. For me to appreciate this, I needed to be engaged more, and with the exception of one track and scattered parts of this work, it just didn’t happen.
http://www.myspace.com/dragonland
Andrew Doherty
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