Dyecrest
The Way of Pain
7
Dyecrest is a group of young, Finnish melodic metallers with quite an interesting history. There was a competition of sorts called “Young Metal Gods 2003”, I think sponsored by Noise Records, that sought out to uncover the most promising European metal acts, with the caveat that the average age of the band had to be 23 or younger. Needless to say, Dyecrest proved victorious and they, along with two other acts, won a contract with Noise. Then, when all seemed well, Dyecast (as they were called then), were contacted by a certain band from my hometown (Boston’s own Diecast) demanding they change their name. Obviously, they acceded to the demands.
So the questions remains, what was so special about this band to merit victory and a guaranteed record deal? To first order, Dyecrest is a power metal act, but one with influences apart from typical Euro acts like Blind Guardian and Stratovarius. Upon a closer listen, their faster tracks are definitely thrashy, with plenty of shredding. Their lighter tracks totally expose their Finnishness, songs with such a goth rock vibe that they would fit in nicely on an Entwine or even a To/Die/For album. Dyecrest operate with the unusual guitar trio, so as you’d expect, there are moments of multi-layered shredding. They are relatively new to the game though, so the triplet isn’t exploited quite as nicely as a band like Iron Maiden can do. Vocally, he’s a pure power metaller with decent range, but next time around he should avoid really reaching for the heavens as his highs get shaky. But never fear, the classic gang-vocals-with-reverb vox get some time too. An excellent mix in the studio further aids their cause.
There are a couple of standout tracks on The Way of Pain that must be heard. The opener “For All the Weak” starts off with riffage from Clayman-era In Flames, then settles into a great power/thrash song. But that’s where the Gothenburg influence ends. Later heavy tracks like “Into the Void” and “Until Death Do Us Part” showcase Children of Bodom-styled guitar flair played over chunky Evergrey rhythms. “Kneeling Down” gives a nod to the mighty Maiden and the way they play ballads. “Made Me Believe” is ripped straight from the Charon/Entwine playbook, but performed very well. “With Pain” does a super job of wrapping things up neatly by tieing all of their various little styles together to form a solid heavy metal song.
I found The Way of Pain to be an enjoyable listen, and one that confirms a lingering suspicion of mine – that I’m developing a real appreciation for well-played power metal. Dyecrest have not released a masterpiece, but nevertheless this shows promise for these young Finns. Gratifying displays of shredding offset an uneven vocal performance, but on the whole, this album should generate some buzz for Dyecrest.
