Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
stunning - you'll be impressed, August 16, 2004
Where do I begin? You've probably already read that this album is just over 70 minutes long. I have no idea how this album keeps my attention so well for the entire 70 minutes, but it does. Every song is so different! And yet... so good! No other album except Hatebreeder (which is half as long) can have not even 30 weak seconds and still be this good. I'd call this `the Mirror of Madness of power metal,' meaning that is about as perfect as a semi-unknown band can do. Heavenly's put them right up there with the big names in the genre with this album. And also, the production has gotten a TON better since Sign of the Winner (which I've also reviewed).
Speed - this album is on my list here on amazon for the title track, and I've been over to 2 friend's houses who listened to the sample of the 2nd song there. They know this kind of music pretty well, and just shook their head in disbelief at how fast that is. One of them said something like "How did their drummer do this for 70 minutes?!" The other is used to blastbeats in black metal and has heard speed taken beyond what can normally be done. Back to this album, there are about 2 ballads and I think 2 short instrumental songs (not including the intro). Most of the songs are about 6 minutes, with Miracle being the longest at 9:08. Miracle is quite an amazing song, while I'm at it. So is the title track. Those are the only 2 I've listened really closely to.
I think the story of the album is something like a guy dying and coming back to life (as a demon, maybe). This album covers that 2nd life part. And I think (again, I'm not sure - this is just how I interpreted it from when I looked in the lyric booklet) in the title track, he dies again (sorry if I spoiled the ending, but get a grip - this isn't a movie or anything).
So let's see... I love the 2nd track, think the 3rd is even better, like the 4th, love the 5th, love the 6th, ... ... go do something else while 7 and 8 are playing (I'm not trying to say that they make me lost interest - for instance, when nature calls, you gotta go!), but 9 is incredible and gives me chills. 10 is great, 11 and 12 are like 7 and 8, and the title track is half-piano ballad.
This just might be the fastest power metal album out there behind Valley of the Damned and Sonic Firestorm. Skylark isn't even this fast anymore (check out their new album, "Wings"). The singer has gotten much more stable-sounding and doesn't sound like Timo Kotipelto anymore. He now has his own voice and doesn't even sound like Gamma Ray's singer anymore. Keyboards compliment the music perfectly, but don't stand out as their own instrument, as they do with Norther or Sonata Arctica. They're more in the background now, as they were on Stratovarius's Infinite album (for one). If you haven't figured it out yet, I strongly believe this is by far Heavenly's most powerful album to date.
One of the notes I made a while ago for this album says, "Every song could be a single! They're even more different from each other than on Coming From the Sky and Sign of the Winner!"
I hope I helped you in deciding whether to or not purchase this (wonderful) album. If I helped, please say so! I have a lot of other reviews (and now, I have my own list here on amazon!), so read them when you get a chance. Type in "Tunnelvision" and you should get to the list.
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heavenly Vampires, April 28, 2005
This is the latest release by the French Epic Power Metal band Heavenly. Now if you're familiar with Heavenly you know that their music is.... well Heavenly. Their previous album, Sign of The Winner, was a melodic masterpiece and one of the most melodious efforts I have ever heard.
Well not to worry, Dust to Dust is every bit as melodic and every bit a masterpiece. At slightly over seventy minutes long it's also a great value. There is one thing that I found a bit odd though. Epic Power Metal albums are usually concept albums (albums that tell a story) and they tend to use a fantasy genre for their subject matter. You know fighting off Dragons, Trolls and Black Knights, but this slice of melodious heaven chose an unlikely subject matter - Vampires. I'll bet Ann Rice would appreciate that. Now I'm not complaining. I actually found the subject matter to be a nice change of pace but I must admit to a little confusion.
One of the things I've always liked about Power Metal is the music, for me at least, seemed so noble and uplifting, You know fighting the Orcs and all, in contrast with Black Metal, Doom Metal etc, which tended to have macabre and morose subjects, like vampires and ghouls. With Dust to Dust we still have the same uplifting , really uplifting music with LIVING DEAD CREATURES OF THE NIGHT. I like it but it does seem somewhat strange
The lead singer Ben Sotto is very capable. He has a rather high pitched but pleasant vox not unlike Freedom Call's Chris Bay and Kamelot's Roy Kahn. The musicianship is superlative. These guys know their instruments and are masters. The song writing and arrangements have continuously matured from their first album, Coming From the Sky. The overall effort on Dust to Dust is superb and I suspect it is one of the ten best Power Metal albums I have heard to date.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intense Power Metal, October 26, 2004
Okay, this would have to be the greatest album I've ever heard. It's amazing! 70+ minutes of intense power metal! HEAVENLY hail from southern France and have 3 albums to their name, Comming From The Sky, Sign Of The Winner, and DUST TO DUST (their latest and best release). The album is split up into 3 chapters but the music stays consistent. The story is basically about a vampire who must endure darkness throughout the ages on his quest to find and destroy his evil master and regain his human soul. The quality and production of this album is superb. All 13 tracks are fantastic, my favourite being track 9. Miracle (it sends shivers down my spine it's that good). Ben Sotto has a unique voice and a fantastic vocal range. His lyrics are great, and together with the backing choir they blow you away. The guitar solos are unmatched - 12 guitars sometimes even more are playing at once (for overdubs and other stuff). The drumming is the fastest I've heard. Unfortunately drummer Maxence Pilo has since left the band (along with guitarist Frédéric Leclercq and bassist Pierre-Emmanuel Pelisson) so hopefully his replacement Thomas Das Neves will be able to keep up the pace on their next album. Anyhoo it seems I cant say enough good things about this band/album, and I'm not the only one. In fact I don't think anyone has submitted a review for DUST TO DUST and not given it 5 stars...
BUY THIS ALBUM NOW!!!
For more info check out http://www.heavenly.fr.st/
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely! Actually, Heavenly!!!
I am a very, very, very spoiled power metal fan, bre! I will listen to every word, every aspect, every melody, every effect, every note of every song, I will pay special attention...
Read more
Published on April 7, 2004
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