Icewind - All Is Dust

For the first time in my life, I’m into power metal, and I think I know why. In the course of moving, I don’t have any speakers right now except for the crappy ones on my laptop. Thus, atmospheric stuff like black or doom metal doesn’t translate, but bright, shiny melodies do. Also, maybe in my state of flux, I’m subconsciously gravitating to Western chord progressions resolving conventionally and comfortingly. Maybe.

No Other Way
Trapped in a Dream

But while my guard is down, I haven’t lost my mind. Power metal still must pass a very high bar before escaping its default frisbee status in my household. The vocals can’t be too annoying, the keyboards can’t be too obtrusive, and there have to be actual guitar riffs.

On these scores, Canada’s Icewind mostly win. For a debut album, All Is Dust (Underground Symphony, 2007) is friggin’ solid, holding my attention all the way through, even with a slight sag in the middle for ballads. The last few songs really pack some oomph. Dig those vocal octave leaps in “No Other Way” and the crazy complicated arrangement of “Trapped in a Dream.” Despite their baroque nature, the songs hit their marks with crisp chord changes and transitions. Tight execution, memorable songs, strong effort overall.

The artwork is horribly cheesy, a mess of mismatched fonts and Thomas Kinkade soft focus filters, but you can’t win ’em all. You aren’t going to get many power metal recommendations from me, so hop to it. All Is Dust is available directly from the band’s MySpace.

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