DAKESIS
“FRACTURES”
Album Review by Piers Renfree

8.5/10

Well well girls and boys, here we are again, still on lockdown in the old mud hut. The government has said that we should work from home if possible – but when you’re reviewing music for Metal Gods TV, then you already do that from home.

Reviewing music is always a pleasure, never a chore, and as you know, we at Metal Gods TV only recommend the finest for you, even in these dark days. Today, the musical treats that we have for you, come from the home of Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Napalm Death and Duran Duran (yes, I know Duran Duran aren’t a heavy metal band. No, you don’t get bonus points for pointing it out. Oh, okay, you can have ‘em, don’t say I’m not good to you); the birthplace of heavy metal, the mecca itself, Birmingham in the UK.

The good people that make up the band “Dakesis” – Gemma Lawler (vocals), Amie Chatterley (bass guitar and vocals), Matt Jones (lead guitar) & Adam Harris (drums and vocals) have given us their third album, since the band formed in 2008. This year’s “Fractures” follows 2010’s “Trial By Fire” and 2016’s “New Dawn” and 2008’s debut release, their self-titled E.P. The band have toured extensively in the past, with Jacob Underwood providing live keyboards & piano in their show. These tours have included their own headline tours, as well as playing some of the big metal festivals including HRH, Power Metal Quest and Bloodstock Open Air, where they headlined the Hobgoblin Stage in 2017.

Produced and mixed by the band’s Matt Jones and mastered by Svante Forsback (who has worked with Sonata Arctica, Apocalyptica, DragonForce and the legendary Rammstein), “Fractures” opens up with “Eos”, mysterious woodwind, Matt Jones’ picked acoustic guitar and an orchestral backing instrumental which leads into “Ends Of Time Part One” which is classic power metal territory. Gemma Lawler sings clearly, her vocals are melodic and this song is a great opener for the album; this should see crowds in the live arena jumping up and down and giving themselves whiplash from excessive head banging. 

“Ends Of Time Part Two” follows, opening with a big, epic intro. There is an orchestral backing here that gives the song an epic, dramatic feel. This should be a mainstay of the band’s live shows. “Overthrown” the fourth song has another big, epic intro, reminds me of the much missed band “Balance of Power”. This song is one that people should be able to sing along with in the live arena. Fifth song “Kairos” follows – another fast paced, power metal song with an epic, dramatic, grandiose feel from the orchestral backing. Matt Jones solo has the feel of a DragonForce solo. 

The songs are all well crafted, full of time and tempo changes. Matt Jones production is crisp and clear. “Surrender Your Fears” the album’s sixth song, is another big, grandiose affair. It has a Middle Eastern feel from the orchestral backing. The song breaks down in the middle, keeping the Middle Eastern feel. This song should also be a mainstay of the band’s live show. If any of you lovely people are fans of Nightwish, Leah, Within Temptation and Kamelot, then this should appeal to you. 

“Hold Forever” is another big, epic, which features both Gemma Lawler and Adam Harris sharing lead vocal duties. The album’s eighth song “Legacy In Memory”, sees Gemma accompanied by piano. The band join in just after the three minute mark, for the final verse and chorus. The ninth, final and album’s title song, “Fractures” starts off building up and is a good fifteen minutes long epic that doesn’t rush anywhere but keeps the dramatic feeling going until the seven minute mark. Then the song breaks down to Gemma singing with piano accompaniment. The band join in, but keep things on the soft, balladic side. The song comes to a nice epic conclusion, that gives you the feeling that you have just seen the most epic ending of the most epic film you have ever seen.

So girls and boys, this is a very strong album and the songs should go down a storm in the live arena. With bands like Dakesis producing music of this calibre, the future of metal is secure. You could do worse than to spend some of your time in lockdown with this. 

TRACKLIST

Eos
Ends Of Time Part One
Ends Of Time Part Two
Overthrown
Kairos
Surrender Your Fears
Hold Forever
Legacy In Memory
Fractures

https://www.dakesis.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Dakesis/

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