Reviews

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Some of these are in languages you might not speak... so feel free to scroll down to the ones that are. Some have quasi-translations below them, so you can quasi-read those if you quasi-prefer.

Belgium's Hell Spawn Webzine
"The Release
Eigen Beheer

Vanuit de donkere Canadese bossen (althans dat denken we toch) bereikte ons het eigen beheer debuut van de band Dream Quest. Hun debuut noemt simpelweg “The release” en oogt zeer mooi voor een eigen beheer product! De band zelf bestaat maar uit drie leden: zanger/ bassist Phil Janzen, gitarist Mark Doerksen en drummer Steve Doerksen. Het geluid van het schijfje is zeer goed te noemen, we hebben al anders meegemaakt met eigen beheer schijfjes. Het cd-tje staat met zijn negen composities garant voor een goeie 50 minuten luisterplezier. De band zou je wat kunnen omschrijven als melodieuze metal, die hier en daar wat raakpunten met de happy power metal heeft! Maar wees gerust, nergens vind ik dit schijfje cheesy overkomen, integendeel. Hier en daar doet de band me soms denken aan Silent Force. Oké, Phil is geen D.C. Cooper, maar de man beschikt ook over een paar goede longen en kan me van begin tot einde bekoren. Voor een debuut kan dit tellen en het zou me helemaal niet verbazen mocht deze band door een of ander label in huis worden gehaald. Volgens de info op hun site is het trio ondertussen al bezig aan de opvolger van dit schijfje. Ik moet toegeven, ik ben uitermate benieuwd. Op hun site vind je enkele MP3 samples en verdere info over hoe je het kleinood kunt bestellen. Als afsluiter een leuke quote over hoe de band zichzelf omschrijft: 'fast, fun, furious. If Indiana Jones, Conan the Barbarian and a ninja wearing a jet pack joined forces, even they could not match the excitement that is Dream Quest'. En daar heb ik verder niks meer aan toe te voegen.
86 Nico"

As translated by Stephanie Tack...
"From the dark Canadian woods (or so we think) reached us from their own work, the debut of the band Dream Quest. Their debut is simply called "the release" and looks beautiful for their own work. The band exists only of three members, singer/bassist Phil Janzen, guitarist Mark Doerksen and drummer Steve Doerksen. The sound of the CD is very good, we usually hear otherwise when we receive own work. The CD with its 9 compositions is a guarantee for 50 minutes of listening enjoy and pleasure. The band has reaching points with happy power metal! But relax, there isnt a cheesy song on the disc. However, the band reminds me now and again of Silent Forcee. OK, Phil is no DC Cooper, but the man has a good set of lungs and convinces me from start to finish. For a debut, this counts and I wouldnt be surprised if a label takes this band in house. From the info on their webiste, this trio is already busy on a follow-up CD. I must admit, I am curious. On their website, you only find MP3 samples and further information how you can order the CD. As ending a little story of how this band describes themselves, "fast, fun, and furious. If Indiana Jones, Conan the Barbarian and a ninja wearing a jet pack joined forces, even they could not match the excitement that is Dream Quest". And to that, I have nothing more to add."

Germany's Metal Page
"Canada’s Metal scene hasn’t fallen asleep as well. And thus Dream Quest fill our hearts with joy by delivering this lovely piece of melodic Power Metal thundering off the speakers well-produced and in traditional US Metal-style mixed with a shot of European Metal. The songs are real catchy and powerful scintillating a lot of charm. No experiments at all,just pure Metal. Guitarist Mark Doerksen acts like kind of a berserking tornado throughout every song and his brother Steve tans his drumkit’s skin very well. The band is completed by vocalist/bassist Phil Janzen. The wall of sound created by this three-piece is really astonishing. A real entertaining album expelling even the last grey clouds off the summer sky."

Beppe Diana, from Defenders of Steel
"8/10. Canadian metal monster!!! E si, mai come in questi ultimi tempi la scena metal canadese si è resa così prolifica di giovani talenti musicali devoti anima e corpo alla nobile causa del true metal sound, e così accanto a vecchie conoscenze come i già recensiti Goat Horn, i ritrovati Fotune Tellers e gli oscuri Antiquus, troviamo questi new comer Dream Quest band che giunge a noi addirittura dal nord del paese, ovvero dalle lande nevose di Manitoba. Formatisi nel 2001 grazie all’unione d’intenti dei fratelli Mark e Steve Doerkesen, rispettivamente chitarra e batteria, ai quali si aggiunge il bassista/cantante Phil Janzen, i Dream Quest, dopo varie esperienze in altrettante formazioni locali, decidono di focalizzare i propri ideali musicali in qualcosa di più fondato, uscendo allo scoperto con quello che a tutti gli effetti è il debut ufficiale di questo giovane ensamble oramai pronto alla conquista delle plateee europee grazie ad un sound molto avvincente ed un’attitudine professionale abbasatanza spiccata per un ensamble di questa portata.
Il genere musicale del quale i nostri si rendono portavoci è un solido power metal molto melodico e di indubbia estrazione germanica, genere al quale i tre abbinano un certo feeling epico/suggestivo che rimanda in molte occasioni a band come Gamma Ray, Edguy o agli svedesi Nocturnal Rites, ma anche e soprattutto ai conterranei Rush, il gusto per gli arrangiamenti e la tecnica che scaturisce da alcuni passaggi strumentali sul quale l’album poggia le sue basi, trasudano adorazione per la band del vecchio Geddy Lee, una commistione di elementi questi, che fanno di questo “The release” un album da ricercare e gustare ascolto dopo ascolto.
Stacchi di natura power, inframezzi prog metal infarciti da riffs spiccatamente hard rock, il tutto accompagnato da liriche interessantissime e di stampo cristiano, ecco quali sono le coordiante sulle quali si muovono le nove tracce di quest’album, un percorso sonoro che mette in mostra una band che sa cucirsi addosso un proprio trade mark senza mai snaturare la propria indole di musicisti, cercando nel contempo di sviluppare un discorso musicale senza mai ripetersi.
Un disco in cui trovano posto in maniera equa sia brani più lineari e marcatamente melodic power metal come l’opener “Facekicker” o le speedy “I am commander” e “11th hour”, episodi caratterizzati da ritmiche serrate sottolineate dalla doppia cassa del dinamico Steve Doerkesen, e dalle chitarre armonizate del fratello Mark, dagli imponenti cori wagneriani e dalle gustose melodie vocali costruite dai tre, fra le quali spicca il talento del buon Phil Janzen, forse troppo forzatamente stridulo nelle parti acute, ma sempre preciso e pulito all’occorrenza, od episodi più tacitamente originali e personali come la title track “The release” in cui i nostri mettono in mostra tutta la loro tecnica e la verve strumentale di cui sono in possesso, fondendo in maniera esemplare atmosfere d’estrazione tipicamente power metal, ad elementi derivativi da un certo metal prog forse stucchevole, ma pur sempre elitario e di classe. Musica e poesia si fondono sulle note della rimarchevole “Wonder” pervasa per l’occasione da un humus sognante ed ancestrale, ma anche oscuro e tagliente, mentre il vero capolavoro del disco è senza alcun dubbio “Yesterday’s tommorrow, today” song contraddistinta da un sense of humor tipicamente nord americano, tempi dispari, ritmi asincroni e cambi di tempo tipicamente prog metal, un affresco multi colore sul quale i nostri si esprimono al meglio delle proprie possibilità, e se l’intermezzo acustico “Doppelganger” arriva più che altro a stemprare le atmosfere venutesi a creare, ci pensa la furiosa “Anthem of the world” a dare il ben servito grazie soprattutto ad una galoppata metallica in pieno stile US metal fra richiami a Metal Church ed Iced Earth.
In definitiva un disco ricco di sfumature, feeling e grande tecnica, potente, arguto ed ambizioso proprio come la stessa band che lo ha rilasciato, una band che, seppur sulla buona strada, dovrà dimostrare in futuro di saper focalizzare al meglio le poprie aspirazioni stilistiche, anche perchè credo proprio che la strada verso il riconoscimento internazionale sia alla loro portata, scommettiamo?"

Martin Brandt, from Heavy Magazine, May 2005
"11/12
Ich bin absolut fasziniert von DREAM QUESTs Song ‘I Am Commander’, der einfach durchgehend genial ist und eine unglaubliche Spielfreude und gute Laune versprüht. Aber auch der Rest der Scheibe weiß zu überzeugen. Von der Frische und Energie her möchte ich die Band aus Kanada mit meinen Lieblingen von MILES BEYOND vergleichen - ohne deren eindeutige MAIDEN-Schlagseite. ‘Facekicker’ oder ‘Anthem Of The World’ sind ebenfalls eindeutige Beispiele für den unwiderstehlichen Sound der Band. Pfeilschnelle Gitarren gepaart mit ungewöhnlichem, aber absolut Ohrwurm-artigem Gesang lassen einen einfach nicht mehr los. DREAM QUEST beweisen, wie man auf intelligente Art und Weise supereingängig sein kann, ohne sich in Kindergarten-Trallala-Melodien ergehen zu müssen."

Stephan Becker, from Obliveon Magazine (Germany), June 12, 2005
" Das auch die Nordamerikaner klasse, europäisch beeinflussten Power Metal zu spielen verstehen, beweist uns das kanadische Trio namens Dream Quest aus Winnipeg, Manitoba. Allerdings hat man wesentlich mehr zu bieten als eine Neuverwurstung der Einflüsse von Gamma Ray und neuerem, typisch europäischem Speed und Power Metal. Kanadische Bands wären keine kanadischen Bands, wenn sie nicht versuchen würden sich auf die eine oder andere intelligente Art von der Konkurrenz abzuheben. Im Falle von Dream Quest kokettiert man da durchaus mal mit Einflüssen der kanadischen Koryphäen von Rush. Zwar hat man mit dem eigentlichen Sound dieser Legende letztendlich nicht wirklich viel zu tun, aber der Basis-Sound aus (Happy) Power Metal wird immer wieder mit einem Hauch von Progressivität verdeckt und die Band um die beiden Brüder Mark (Guitars) und Steve Doerksen (Drums) weiss sich mit dieser Mixtur erfolgreich von der immer gleich klingenden Konkurrenz zu distanzieren. Streckenweise klingt man gar etwas nach der Florida-Legende Siren, falls die noch jemandem was sagen. „Facekicker“ (trotz des Titels definitiv kein Death Metal-Tack!) eröffnet mit an Iron Maiden orientierten Melodien. Die später einsetzende Gesangsmelodie weist dann allerdings eher Parallelen zu den frühen Helloween auf, wenngleich Sänger Phil Janzen, der zugleich den Bass bedient, eine durchaus eigene, ungewöhnliche, aber zu gefallen wissende Stimme hat. Gekrönt wird der Track durch ein schönes Gitarrensolo. Der Titeltrack hat gewisse Labyrinth/Vision Divine-Ähnlichkeiten, und doch klingt das Gesamtergebnis irgendwie anders… eigenwilliger, unorthodoxer, experimenteller….progressiver, wenn man so will. Lediglich das klassisch angehauchte Solo hätte auch aus der Feder von Olaf Thörson stammen können. Hervorzuheben sind vielleicht noch das wunderschöne Akustik-Gitarren-Instrumental namens „Doppelganger“ (die nordamerikanische Tastatur kennt kein „ä“) und das intelligente „Yesterday´s Tomorrow, Today“, das nach kurzer Einleitung und speedigen Anklängen sehr rockig-progressiv daherkommt und mit Power Metal – ob nun italienischer oder deutscher Prägung – gar nichts mehr zu tun hat. Dream Quest wissen mit einer grossen Spannbreite und sehr abwechslungsreichem Songwriting zu gefallen. Wie schreibt die Band selbst: „Catchier than speed metal, heavier than pop-punk and more innovative than hard rock. …Fast. Fun. Furious.“ Und ihr seid dumm - oder pleite, wenn ihr dieses Album nicht bestellt. (Auf der Website http://www.adventuremetal.com gibt´s übrigens Teildownloads.)
8/10 - SBr"

Mike Warkentin, from Uptown Magazine, September 30, 2004
"Grade: A
Better check your record collection, because your Iron Maiden albums have been stolen. The culprits are the three memebers of Christian metal band Dream Quest. Mixing the classic sounds of Maiden with the grandiose operatic stylings of Ingwie [sic] Malmsteen, Tobias Sammet and Ritchie Blackmore, these guys showcase instrumental skill that belies their tender years. Fretwork from Mark Doerksen is incredible as he flies through the sort of near-classical shredding that makes Dungeons and Dragons players brandish swords with menacing glee. Time will add more power to some of the solo vocals, but the harmonies throughout work well with the soaring riffs and galloping metal chops back it up."

From The Music Appraisal
"Dream Quest, an unorthodox rock band from Winnipeg, MB started in 2000. Originally performing and recording demos under other names, the actual determination for the band came as a result of the feedback they receieved. In 2004, they recorded and released "The Release" at High North Studio with John Paul Peters (Every New Day, Figure Four). Dream Quest's lineup consists of Phil Janzen (bass), Mark Doerksen (guitar), and Steve Doerksen (drums).
I had assumed that The Release was a typical power-metal album. Being a power metal fan, I was initially disappointed at this poor attempt at power metal. In reality, Dream Quest have taken the noble route and created their very own sound to call their own. Stating such influences as Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden and Sonata Arctica, it's easy to see where their sounds comes from. Even so, the music is almost pop-punk at times. If Craig's Brother and Sonata Arctica made a supergroup, Dream Quest might be the first chapter in their conquest. Most of the lyrics are written in usual metal lingo, and deal with topics such as fighting the devil, Christ's sacrifice, and the ultimate demise of evil. My favorite tracks are "Facekicker," "I Am Commander," "Wonder" and "Yesterday's Tomorrow, Today."
The artwork on this CD is nothing special. The audio quality and production is amazing, and I am still noticing certain things that I didn't notice before. If you're a fan of great guitar work, metalheads who wear leather pants, or anything delightfully whitty, do yourself a favor and check Dream Quest out. Now, where's my sword?
http://www.adventuremetal.com/
Rating 4/5 "

By Marc Desgagné, from Power Metal Universe, a french website
"Dream Quest est un groupe originaire de Winnipeg au Manitoba, Canada. Lorsqu'on parle de groupes assez uniques, nous pouvons également ajouter cette formation à cet ensemble. Comment décrire leur style? Il s'agit d'une tâche hardue, mais ils se sont donnés le nom d'"Adventure Metal" (Aventure Metal). Une batterie rapide, d'excellentes mélodies et une guitare entraînante, le résultat avait un son plus facilement accrocheur que le speed metal, plus heavy que le pop/punk punk/rock, et plus innovateur que le hard rock. C'est en quelque sorte ce que représente le terme "Adventure Metal". Le vocal se rapproche beaucoup plus du pop/punk, mais la musique est grandement insprirée par une sorte de power/speed metal à l'aide du "double-bass drum". C'est la grande particularité de le leur premier album, "The Release". En raison du vocal, ils auront un peu plus de misère à se faire cataloguer comme un groupe réellement metal, pourtant la base et l'esprit est là. Il s'agit d'une sorte de power punk metal, ce qui est vraiment très rare et original.

C'est avec cet esprit que débute l'album avec la pièce "Facekicker". Un morceau très accrocheur avec une mélodie vraiment intéressante. Ils nous présentent dès le début le visage de Dream Quest et les différents éléments qu'ils souhaient combiner. "The Release" garde le même rythme que la pièce précédente. C'est avec avec ces surfaces qu'on remarque l'atmosphère plus power metal avec le "double-bass drum" et les chants par moment en choeurs. Toutefois, c'est avec la troisième pièce, "I Am Commander", qu'on retrouve la petite découverte de l'opus. Après plusieurs écoutes, elle demeure, selon moi, la plus accrocheuse, la plus rapide et la plus énergique. Un refrain qui est vraiment excellent, elle est d'une durée de 6 minutes 32 secondes. En fait, les morceaux sont tous assez long, qui varient en majorité entre 5 et 6 minutes. Le talent des musiciens est présent, on sent le travail qui a été mis de la part de Dream Quest, malgré le peu de budget, la production n'en est pas très affectée. "Doppelganger" change un peu l'aspect de l'album en étant une pièce instrumentale à la guitare acoustique. "Yesterday's Tomorrow, Today" et "11th Hour" sont également excellentes et elles représentent le style général du groupe.

"Subvenio" fait un grand contraste avec une approche un peu plus romanesque. Elle évoque encore plus l'attitude power metal, avec une présentation théatrale. Finalement, "The Release" se termine en force avec "Anthem of the World", qui reprend la rapidité à un nouveau se rapprochant de "I am commander".

Il est évident qu'il faut aimer, ou se laisser transporter, par un vocal "pop/punk punk/rock" et c'est probablement là où Dream Quest auront un peu plus de misère à aller chercher un public d'amateurs de metal, souvent enfermés dans des styles ou enfermés dans le metal. Personnellement, j'ai toujours adoré le punk/rock en plus du metal, alors l'approche et le contact avec "The Release" s'est fait avec merveille et le groupe est facilement été classé comme étant une de mes nouvelles découvertes. Si vous avez moindrement l'esprit ouvert, Dream Quest pourraient aller se chercher autant des amateurs de punk que des amateurs de metal. Ce trio de Winnipeg n'auront toutefois pas la tâche facile, mais le talent est là et le fait qu'ils ont opté pour l'originalité, le tout leur sera sûrement bénéfique. Les meilleurs morceaux sont "Facekicker", "The Release", "I Am Commander", "Yesterday's Tomorrow, Today" et "Anthem of the World". Vous pouvez acheter l'album chez CDBaby.com pour seulement 13$. Il s'agit d'un des plus gros magasins en ligne pour l'achat de disques de groupes indépendants, alors vous n'avez rien à craindre. Dream Quest, un nom à retenir.
Note : 8.4/10"

From Barikada, from BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA webzine
"Iz Winnipega, Manitobe, Canada, dolazi sastav naziva Dream Quest. Kanadjani su formirani tokom 2000. godine od strane Steve i Mark Doerksena i Phil Janzena. Dugo su trazili ime, pa su na kratko delovali pod razlicitim nazivima. No, hrabro su krenuli u kreiranje vlastite muzicke price, a dok god su pesme nastajale, bend je uspevao i da bude koncertno aktivan. U prvo vreme su realizovali nekoliko demosa, dok pesme konacno nisu dobile zeljenu formu, koje ce se kasnije naci na njihovom full-lengthu.

Clanovi grupe za svoju muziku kazu da je - adventure metal, odnosno, soundtrack za bilo ciji licni avanturisticki film. Materijal koji se nasao na izdanju pod imenom "The Release" i postavljen je kao neka vrsta soundtracka, ili modernije fantasy price, koja u izvodjackom smislu apsorbuje elemente power metala, thrash metala i melodic formi.

Bend se pridrzava termina "adventure" metal, i saglasili se ili ne sa njihovom definicijom, ne moze se oteti utisku, da je "The Release" kompleksno, harmonski i izvodjacki bogato izdanje. Bend u muzickom smislu zna da podseti na nemacke legende kao sto su Helloween ili Running Wild, ali profesionalnost koju su ponudili preko cutih snimaka, nedvosmisleno govori da su sastav za respekt. Karakteristika njihovog pristupa je i neka vrsta "vedrine" i pozitivne neozbiljnosti, odnosno upliv "zabavnih" elemenata, sto pokazuje da momci iz grupe imaju "smeka" i stila. "The Release" je izdanje sa kojim pristalice i fanovi fantasy metala mogu biti sasvim zadovoljni, a i bend je startovao snazno i obecavajuce.

Ocena : 8,5 / 10 "

Or, if you don't speak Serbian: (translated by the author)
"... For their music, members from band found a term - adventure metal. A materials from "The Release"
issue are released also as a sort of personally soundtrack or modern fantasy story. In performing concept, band combine elements of power, thrash metal and melodic forms. "The Release" is complexive issue, also harmonically, and in all aspects of realizations. A group knows to remind on German legends, as a
Heloweeen or Running Wild, but offered professional aspects, confirmed respectable statement of their
approach.Band also accept one "fun" and unserious dimension in their performing threathenings, and
judging by that, ge additional "charming" points.
"The Release" is an issue, very recomandable for the fans of fantasy metal, and band could be quite
satisfied with their discography start..."

Rating : 8,5 / 10 "

By Antonis Maglaras from Metal Domination Online, a Greek webzine
"Even if we don't know, Canada has a quite big metal scene. Another band from this country, send to us their latest self financed album with the title "The Release". The band formed before five years and they have already released several demos, but last year was the best year from them, because it was the release year of their debut album.

Musically the band walks in power / heavy metal which sometimes the band reaches the speed metal. The songs are well worked and the compositions have the personal sound from Dream Quest. The guitar work is really good and they have some nice ideas and the rhythm section is good enough.

The band has tracks that can stuck easily in your mind even if some of them have five or six minutes duration. All in all if you are a fan of power / speed metal you should check this band, you can have some good times while you will hear their stuff.

8/10"

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