ASSAILANT - WICKED DREAM - 2008

Back in 2006 when I've received the previous release of the combo ("Nemesis Within") I thought at first that Assailant was one other new boring Power Metal band from Sweden… I was totally wrong actually because this album was powerful as hell and their new album "Wicked Dream" is one more time a great mix of Power, Thrash and Progressive Metal. It's not really easy to find similar band and yes that's great to see that some bands still find a way to surprise us. "Wicked Dream" is one of the best surprises of the beginning of the year and through this new release, Assailant will become a famous combo, I'm sure of it now.

I like "Wicked Dream", this album is so varied it's really good to listen to such album. Assailant is like a Metal melting-pot. On a side some songs can sound like the Progressive Power of Evergrey, with a lot keyboards and really dark atmospheres but on the other hand, the album is thrashy and when I talk about Power, be sure that I'm not talking about European "flower" Power Metal. The music of Assailant is heavy, complex (its Prog side) and Thrashy. So of course, it's more Power than classic Thrash but the voice of the singer is aggressive and the riffs are loud. If you like violent Power (a bit like all the US Power Metal bands) and want something proggy, "Wicked Dream" is must.

I've discovered Peder Sundquist before that I listen to this release but I'm more and more convinced by this guy. His hoarsy vocals which can be clean or even a bit "Death" are excellent. When you add to this point that the other musicians are all really competent and that the songs are catchy but never commercial, it's not hard to understand that "Wicked Dream" is a great Metal album. With a perfect production a cool cover and of course eleven great songs, I hope that you'll follow my advice and check as soon as possible this release. This is not Thrash, this is not Power or Heavy Metal or Prog, this is a mix of all those genres and it's just perfectly done.

"Wicked Dream" is a great surprising release. I like its violence, I like its melodies I like the musicians of Assailant and I'm happy to have this album in my record collection now. Don't wait anymore, "Wicked Dream" is an album for you if you like angry Power or dark Progressive music a la Evergrey. "Wicked Dream" is a must of Metal and one of the best surprises of the year 2008.