Visions and Dreams “Risen” for #METALMOMENTUM
Band: Visions and Dreams
Title: Risen (Debut single)
Label: Self-released
Release Date: October 30th, 2024
Country: Finland-Sweden
Format Reviewed: High-Quality Digital Recording
(Debut Single) Visions and Dreams – “Risen” : “The Prince of Darkness Unleashed; A New Beginning”.
“Discover “Risen,” the debut single from Visions and Dreams a thunderous new force in metal led by the Man of the Golden Voice Mikael Salo.This track features intricate compositions, soaring vocals, and a captivating dark sound that sets a new standard in the genre” (By Elyna Steel)
Welcome to a special edition of “Metal Momentum”.Today we are extremely honored to review a new gem that has just broken into the metal realms. And it must be said; in the wake of their appearance, the standard for power metal music has truly been put up there.
Bridging the Nordic lands of Sweden and Finland, we introduce you to the impressive Visions and Dreams, a magnificent brotherhood of Excellence, composed by a top-tier set of musicians: on guitars, Emil Norberg (Persuader, Long Shadows Down) and Fredrik Mannberg (Nocturnal Rites, Guillotine, Engraved); Pelle Åkerlind (Axenstar, Morgana Lefay, Bloodbound) on drums. On vocals, the man of the golden voice, maestro Mikael Salo (Dyecrest, Metal de Facto, Thy Row, Everfrost, Northern Seer). And completing the brotherhood, the great Samuli “Obscurage” Hytinnen (ex- Seraphiel, Medicated) on bass. Their live debut will be this upcoming November 9th, where they will open the Studion Stage at The House Of Metal Festival. in Sweden.
Their digital successful debut was last October 30th with “Risen”, their very first single which summoned listeners from all around the world during its YouTube premiere. And the impact has been such that the lyric video, crafted by Chilean maestro David Olivares, continues to add thousands of views every day. Same happens on Spotify, where there are already more than 100 monthly listeners to Visions and Dreams. Moreover, “Risen” has garnered praise and positive feedback from established artists. The best thing is everything happens as you read, with “Risen” just released.
This is a testament of what occurs when gifted maestros (without egos through the roof ) converge to form a band of such quality that there is no need for bombastic media paraphernalia to spread the voice of their existence. Excellence, professionalism, talent and authenticity are their true calling cards.
The single was mixed by Mattias Eklund at Farkosten Studio and mastered by Thomas ”Plec” Johansson at multi Grammy winning Panic Room Studio. In turn, the keyboard and orchestrations were crafted by Henke Kjellberg, who masterfully added a seductive layer of deep mystery and theatricality to the overall.
I had been looking forward to this release for a while now, and it was definitely worth it. Currently, Mikael Salo is among the best power metal singers. No discussion. Also, I admire Fredrik Mannberg from the very first time I discovered Nocturnal Rites 30 years ago. So I ardently desired to discover the wonders these two masters could create if working together.
The result of that meeting far exceeds any expectations. As a side note, my experience when listening to this single was so intense that I have called it “the Risen experience”. It’s an explosive, perfeclty balanced, mind-blowing progressive suite developed throughout 08;24’. A risky bet for a debut single in terms of lenghr, since bands generally debut with shorter singles. However, these guys know what they have, and with “Risen” it is made crystal clear. The members’ long musical career and immense talent contribute to craft a seductive, dark and bewitching narrative. Besides, Visions and Dreams’ sound leaves a footprint all about maturity, power, intelligence, creativity and diversity. The five masters draw from diverse musical influences including Symphony X, Iced Earth or Blind Guardian, that is noticeable. Yet the single has a distinctive personality on its own. Visions and Dreams make power metal to the bone, without a doubt. But “Risen” is far from being a generic power metal song. Its sound is dark and intense, evoking the atmosphere of Nocturnal Rites, Blind Guardian or Iced Earth, but its own sonority is even darker, more sinister. It also conveys feelings of certain aggression courtesy of the killer vocals of the impressive Mikael Salo.
As for its musical structure, “Risen” surprises with its complex fluidity and the multifacetedness of its passagios. The intro, interludes, choruses and bridges are connected in an intelligent sequence of captivating progressions, nuancing and enriching the overall in terms of speed, tonality, rhythm, melody and vocals. This makes the 8 minutes and 23 seconds of duration to pass very fast. Too fast for my liking, so I listen to “Risen” on epic, long repeat. You know, my neurodivergent brain finding a safe sonic place in “Risen” to never let it go nor leave it.
The lyrics weave a tragic narrative centered on the Prince of Darkness. It is Dracula, who in a lamenting sense understands that his destiny is eternal Darkness. And so it enters into a philosophical question. He knows that his kingdom is neither the living nor the dead, but rather a formless realm where loneliness reigns. And so the desire grows to have company, to find others like him. And not simple lackeys with blind obedience; He wants others like him to follow him voluntarily. Respect and admiration. We all want that deep down and Dracula is no exception. Even though he knows the eternal hell in which he lives, is willing to bring others to the dark plane to create his great infernal family in the lost kingdom of the Vampire.
This seductive narrative is presented precisely in the melodic/ vocal performances. The nuances and the progressions throughout make the story credible and compelling. Who knows, maybe the real children of Dracula will finally wake up and reunite as a family after hearing “Risen”
Regarding musicality, the song is a continuous crescendo, punctuated by “breathing” moments. It kicks off with an emotional interplay of non distorted guitar and bass that beautifully complements Mikael’s velvety voice. The dark tone of this initial passage stands out, creating an expectant and mysterious atmosphere. Mikael’s intelligent vocal harmonies, along his tonal and technical display are spectacular – Frisson assured.
After, there is a break in the emotionality with the addition of the enigmatic, precious keyboards that masterfully bridges the intro with the spectacular and thunderous pre-verse section. Guys, this segment and the ones that follow it increases in speed and drama, making your spine tingle. The ferocious guitars of Emil and Fredrik, the powerful bass of Samuli and the thunderous drums of Pelle unleash hell on earth, releasing the spirits of the damned in an impressive display of technical perfection and musical synchrony that set the stage for the vocals.
What comes next is anthological; Mikael Salo, turned into the very Prince of Darkness, singing insanely high in a display of ferocity and bestiality that leaves you breathless. He has already sung at that high notes sometimes yet mainly intro-outro and closing line screams. This time, he dared to sing complete lines at that high pitch, and he really nailed it!
The pre-chorus bridge evokes sonorities of Blind Guardian and Iced Earth, but with way more evil. The progressions here are brutally intense.The feeling is like a roller coaster where you go up and down too fast.
The chorus is one of the most catchy, fluid and thunderous I remember. Although equally progressive and dynamic, the tone is less dark than the other sections. It is like a ray of absurd hope that fills the hearts of the damned with joy, amidst the wild sound of the guitars and the rhythmic base. Mikael surprises again, both with challenging yet poignant vocal harmonies and with a scream at the end of the chorus, so high that it reaches the stratosphere. The tonal-vocal progressions and nuances follow one after another. The guitars roar beastly while Samuli and Pelle carry the rhythmic baton with impressive power. After the second chorus, Emil performs an elegant solo, without abusing picking, balancing the overall and managing to integrate the elements into the background. That balance makes the overall sound feel like a gentle breeze amidst the scorching heat of vampire hell.
After this, another succession of bridges occurs. First a keyboard one, clocking it at almost thirty seconds.Then comes another ultra progressive vocals’ bridge, absolutely moving. Emil’s spectacular solo raises the tone of the atmosphere and prepares the final act with a powerful bridge, followed by the dark and ultra progressive pre-chorus. Reaching the final chorus, the adrenaline rises because the keyboard bursts into the ear and evokes sounds of Luca Turilli, Sonata Arctica and Angra! Yes, Angra. Nothing strange considering that Mikael Salo is a fan of the legendary Brazilians, icons of progressive power in the 90s. The take closes at full speed, with Mikael viscerally screaming and abruptly closing the first chapter in Visions and Dreams’ journey.
All in all, the debut of the magical Visions and Dreams with their first single “Risen”, was ambitious and bold yet really successful. While some may consider the length of the take as too long (I don’t think so, anyways) its extraordinary and fluid complexity compensates the thing. The time literally flies when listening to “Risen”.
The five members’ talent synchronicity of the band, led by the Man with the Golden Voice, Mikael Salo, brought to existence a unique and necessary project in the current music scene. We know that today success is measured by the number of likes of a band, not necessarily by the quality of the music delivered. In the case of Visions and Dreams, the musical quality, technical perfection and fiato speak for themselves in “Risen”, one of the most risky and perfect debut singles that I can remember.
One last thing I want to share is that it’s been a while since I felt short in words to describe a song. However, “Risen” left me speechless during the YouTube premiere. I just couldn’t help feeling deeply moved, almost crying before such a wonder — perhaps the best song within the genre so far.
When faced with a masterpiece like this, you realize that you have to invent a new language to convey the “Risen” experience. Just as Tolkien had to invent the Elvish language to express his mind when wrote The Lord Of The Rings.
Ultimately, Visions and Dreams is not only a new and excellent power metal band with a top-tier line-up and killer vocals, poignant solos and a demolishing rhythmic base. Hell no! Visions and Dreams is an outstanding universe, an overwhelming experience that every lover of power metal and beyond must embrace to truly discover. With their debut single “Risen” the curtains are lifted for Visions and Dreams, who have put the standards for power metal up there in the wake of their appearance.
So stay tuned, for new chapters are coming of this incredible and dreamed-of musical utopia, poignantly brought to reality by 5 Princes of Darkness. 10/10 By Elyna
Mikael Salo
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