Melodeath isn't a very exciting genre for me anymore. When I first discovered bands like In Flames and Soilwork, I couldn't get enough, but these days that whole sound seems rather played out to me. There are too many bands using it without offering anything new.
My feelings on Before the Dawn are somewhat along those lines. Their music is competently constructed and sounds just fine, but to me, it seems like there isn't a whole lot to differentiate the band from others in the same vein, or even to differentiate between one song and another. What really saves it, for me, are the clean vocals provided by Lars Eikind of Winds. The man has an outstanding voice. I'm big on vocal performances; a good one can make an otherwise unremarkable album into something interesting. That's the case here.
The one exception is the song "Ghost Town." Plenty of bands completely miss the mark once in awhile, but this song is something more than that. If I didn't know better, I'd say that the guys in Before the Dawn actively set out to create the most horrible metal song they could. It's that bad, a huge malignant tumor in an otherwise healthy body. I made myself a copy of the CD that doesn't include "Ghost Town," and like to pretend that the song never existed. I suggest that you do the same.
Despite its shortcomings, if you're into some of the other melodeath bands out there like Kalmah or Insomnium, this may very well be right up your alley. I'd especially recommend it if you're like me and place a lot of importance on strong vocals, and are a fan of Eikind's work in Winds.
this is a beautiful album, this band is very creative and this will have you more than entertained for years! HIGHLY recommended!
