CLOUDSCAPE - GLOBAL DRAMA - 2008

Global Drama is the third release from Sweden's Cloudscape, a stunning display of melodic progressive metal that will instantly appeal to fans of Pagan's Mind, Kamelot, Circus Maximus, and Pathosray. If you thought that 2006's Crimson Skies was good, you are really in for a treat here. Plenty of sizzling guitar solos & crunchy riffs abound from Bjorn Eliasson & Patrik Svard, and with the powerful vocals of Mike Andersson, intricate rhythms, and lots of symphonic keyboards, Global Drama is a CD you won't want to miss.

Opener "Mind Diary" starts things off in grand fashion, power metal rhythms supporting a host of massive riffs, keyboards, and plenty of catchy vocal melodies. From here, you get treated to one memorable cut after another, the soaring melodies sure to please the most picky melodic metal lover, but there's tons of tricky progressive metal moments and symphonic elements for the prog crowd. "Darkest Legacy" is just great, catchy, complex prog-metal, Andersson pulling in a wonderful vocal, and expect lots of tasty guitar solos, while "Cloak & Daggers" is simply a symphonic metal treat, somewhere along the lines of Kamelot or Nightwish, complete with loads of orchestral synths and squealing pinch harmonics from the two guitar aces. The more aggressive "Paid in Blood" sees the band digging deeper into speedier rhythms and chugging guitar riffs, while the darker and more atmospheric "The Silence Within" brings to mind Evergrey at times. Again, the vocal melodies are just wonderful, and the dark synth tones just add to the overall dramatic effect.

Other highlights include the two epic numbers "Alagoas" and "Eyes of Jealousy", the majestic ballad "Fragile", and the quirky, complex prog number "Ritual of the Blade". The truth is, there's not a weak track here, Cloudscape putting together a very strong work from start to finish. Once you catch a glimpse of the amazing artwork from Mattias Noren that adorns this CD, you'll instantly be pulled in, ready to be enveloped by the powerful sounds that Global Drama has to offer. Now that the band is on Roastinghouse Records/Golden Core Sweden, a division of Universal Music, can wider recognition be far away? Let's hope not-this band deserves the attention of the masses.
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