It doesn't take a rocket scientist to determine that this is Luca Turilli's personal work of art. An album that he invested alot of time and effort into that likely detracted from the inspiration spark for cobbling together the disc that many true metal fans were anxiously awaiting: "The Infinite Wonders of Creation", the not-so grand finale to the seven year trilogy. Whereas that album lacks severely in many key departments, especially when stacked against the inaugural Turilli CD and the sword and sorcery Rhapsody albums, Dreamquest's
"Lost Horizons" is brilliantly glowing with fresh ideas and unconventional details that turn power metal on its head and then some. Lush bombastic arrangements are crafted from symphonic sounds, electronica touches such as synth and distortions and lots of keyboards - handled by Turilli instead of his traditional six string.
There's no denying that the combination is huge and aureate, its just built on foundations that are not typical of the genre. Guitar bursts are short, sweet, yet poignant. When allowed to electrify, it comes like tipping water into the hands of a parched traveler. So much sweeter and quenching a thirst you never knew was parching the dehydrated, craving soul.
The operatic female vocals are another change, not as dramatic as other tweaks. Her voice is crystal clear and absolutely gorgeous. She is reminiscent of Rannveig Sif Sigurdardottir that was utilized in his solo debut.
On the big, bold thundering pieces like the gigantic title track that pulses right through your head with an elegantly powerful majesty, she holds her own easily. She blasts her voice with an unwavering conviction and the devastating glow of an archangel. It is a shame that she remains nameless, for information seems scarce, since she possesses one of the most diverse and outstanding voices I have ever heard. Some speculate she is known by the name of "Myst". Yet, why the mystery? Who knows. When you have uncovered and acquired a vocalist of this caliber it seems like you would want to shout the name from the very rafters so that all would know what an amazing find she is. Maybe Luca is afraid that
Nightwish might cut her a better deal and steal her right out of the Dreamquest project. This would be a tragedy for it this voice that makes alot of what you will hear so magical in execution.
However on lighter fare such as the new agey, delicately sparse beauty of the true story of
"Dolphin's Heart", those pipes are all over the top with their operatic antics, stretching her range and sailing away with the porpoises themselves. The story of this song is moving by itself. It is about a dolphin that saved a child that was going to be killed by the waves in the Italian gulf. The people of the town adopted this water animal and loved him for his heroic deed, only for him to lose his life to illegal fishing a few short weeks later. You can feel the sadness penetrating through the emotional veil the song creates.
The choruses are magnificent and Luca makes an individual statement with each song instead of attempting to string a sort of story together.
"Virus" builds to massive porportions on vocal layers alone. The guitars are rhythmic and cutting, very gritty and crushing while the keyboards weave their oddly infectious spell.
"Black Rose" is equally intense and utilizes those strange and warped synthesizers. All hell breaks loose with a vocal assault a'la
Therion that overwhelms the senses. Every song is a masterpiece really, from the distorted vocals bouncing off the keys for
"Shades of Eternity" to the thumping Ayreon-like wonder of
"Energy".
Sifting through the gems, there's the Land of the Rising Sun influences reflected like a mystical illusion in the soaring
Nightwish feeling
"Kyoto's Romance" with its vocal battle waged like a torn apart heart ripped into pieces. Blood trickling down for glimpses of vulnerability before sealing off again for the climbing climax.
"Too Late" may be the runaway favorite for it has this gothic flavor a'la Theatre of Tragedy melted with the metallic bombastic sheen of
Therion that combines for an explosive combination that sends tingles running up and down the spine. A dizzying amount of voices colliding and play off of each other while the guitar goes into short bursting fits of brief pondering rage.
So a departure for Turilli? Perhaps, but not as drastic as one would immediately assume. The fairy like "Forest of Elves" from Rhapsody's "Legendary Tales" and the opera based "Princess Aurora" taken from "Kings of the Nordic Twilight" were anything but metallic staples. So the music here is truly not far from the beaten path where past examples are concerned.
Dreamquest's
"Lost Horizons" has taken a hit from most of the mainstream media that was frustrated by the faltering quality of the much awaited true metal affair that closed off the stretched out story. They have trashed this simply for not being what you would anticipate from the metal guitarist. The heart of the truth is that this is a worthwhile disc that has a unique flavor and is confident, complex, and meticulously composed. Many of these compositions are breathtakingly sweeping pieces that belong alongside
Edenbridge or even
Within Temptation - others are excerises in opera - but the quality remains.
It may not sit well with the self proclaimed soldiers of true metal but I think it was time for a change for an institution that is growing more cliched and tiresome by the day. This is a fresh alternative for anyone searching for something deeper than just double drums and hails to the king. Not that there is anything wrong with such a premise - its just that sometimes you need a daring change of guard - and this is it. Enjoy Dreamquest for what it represents and not what you would expect it to be. Even fans of
Nightwish will forget about
Tarja after sampling the transcendental compositions collected within
"Lost Horizons". Truly one of the albums of the year.
Written by
Alanna Monday, August 7, 2006
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