PALANTIR
“Chasing A Dream”
Album Review by Iron Mathew

9/10

Palantir are a power metal band from Sweden formed in 2012, with two albums released to date – ‘Lost Between Dimensions’ (2017), and 2022’s ‘Chasing A Dream’.

Featuring eight songs over forty six minutes, the new album from Swedish metallers Palantir is a fast paced yet measured gallop of symphonically tinged power metal. All eight songs are highly melodic and infectious, and will have you intently hooked from the off – the title song ‘Chasing A Dream’ launching the album in a vigorous nature, the opening half minute, a thundering intro! Adopting the classic “foot on the monitor” pace, ‘Chasing A Dream’ (the song) is head noddingly addictive with a very catchy chorus – this would be an excellent concert opener, for its very crowd friendly and invigorating feel. Opening with a slight folk metal hint, ‘Queen Of The Moon’ is a fast paced scorcher, heavily laden with keyboards, and will nod your head a lot faster than the opening salvo – Palantir picking up the pace but not losing any of the infectious and catchy nature of ‘Chasing A Dream’ (the song).

At over six and a half minutes in length, ‘Astral Prison’ is the longest song on offer, and opens with a spine tingling tension filled atmosphere before adopting the mid tempo swagger of anthemic metal – the kinda anthemic metal of bands such as Sabaton and Powerwolf. There is also a regal feel running right through ‘Astral Prison’ as it majestically marches on to a conclusion. And talking of majestic, ‘Among The Stars’ is the most epic offering so far, raising the tone of the album to symphonic power metal, and pushing forth with an urgency and intent not heard so far. This increase in pace will be matched by more vigorous head nodding, with the head bangers of the world finding themselves stretching their neck muscles further and further the more ‘Chasing A Dream’ (the album) runs on. ‘The Beast Within’ maintains the albums recent upsurge in urgency, storming forward with more intensity and energy than everything that has gone before.

And as the album glides on, it suddenly becomes heavier – ‘Transcension’ offering a more thunder fuelled gallop than anything heard so far. A thunder fuelled gallop that owes much of its sound to the legendary NWOBHM evolution during the glorious eighties, with Palantir blending in traditional metal to their root power metal style. With the album getting better and better, ‘Where I Belong’ has the pace, intensity, and urgency of classic European power metal – the energy level at the highest its been all album. Heads will be banging hard and fists raised high in the air to salute an absolute peach of a tune. The album is brought to a close with the hustle and bustle of ‘Read The Signs’, maintaining the albums energy and intensity. And with pace changes galore, there is still time for some last minute head nodding, head banging, and generally giving your neck muscles one final stretch.

Overall, an infectious gallop of symphonic power metal, ‘Chasing A Dream’ is a catchy and highly addictive album.

TRACKLIST

Chasing A Dream
Queen Of The Moon
Astral Prison
Among The Stars
The Beast Within
Transcension
Where I Belong
Read The Signs

http://www.palantirsweden.se/
https://www.facebook.com/palantirsweden/

This review is the property of Iron Mathew and Metal Gods TV. It is strictly prohibited to copy any part of this review, unless you have both of the parties’ permission, or are the band/record label/PR company in question. Failure to adhere to these instructions will be considered as Plagiarism and you will be reported to the appropriate authorities

---