last vinyl before doomsday
Excellent follow up to the underrated masterwork "Aelin - A Story About Destiny." Old school doom with an epic edge and progressive integrations.
Ten years of sorrow and ten years of war
The villages burnt down, the forests are no more
A tyrant king would veil the land in snow and blood and ice
Turn brother against sister, to rule with fear and lies
Winter it came but would never pass
The years would go by, the deep freeze would last
From hunger and suffering a legend was born
A girl from an island would come with the thaw
She was the guardian of the meek
A gentle sorceress, a cunning heroine
She still haunts the powers that be
Saviour princess in our dreams
Hope still springs, we still believe
In the Girl from the Island
Ten years of sorrow and ten years of war
The king's men were sent out with brutality and force
They'd hunt her in the fields and hunt her through the woods
The Girl from the Island was killed as she stood
The Girl from the Island
We still believe
Quicksand Dream is a Swedish Heavy Metal band that was originally formed in 1988.
After splitting up in 1993, the band reformed as a duo (Patrick Backlund and Göran Jacobson) around 1996, keeping a low profile and mainly serving as a creative outlet for writing and recording songs every now and then.
Beheading Tyrants is the first try at making an album since Aelin (2000), originally released in 30-CDR copies and later re-pressed in 2010 by Chris Black's (Pharaoh, High Spirits, Dawnbringer) own label Planet Metal (vinyl version on High Roller Records).
Patrick Backlund is also the forming member of the doomy Hard Rock band Mortalicum with whom he has released four albums. Quicksand Dream also features Henrik Högl and Andreas Häggström, who are both handling the drumming on this recording.
“Beheading Tyrants” can be described as an EPIC METAL album with many DOOM elements.
Don't expect pounding, Manowar-syle epic metal here. Imagine a crossover between “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” and mid 80s Manilla Road instead.
The EPIC VIBE resides not only and always in the HEAVY component but it’s rather a matter of atmosphere, introspective elements and a sense of impending tragedy.
In this scenario the bass lines assume the role of leader of the dance, perfectly matched by vocalist Göran Jacobson's sympathetic interpretation and by a clever use of guitars, with some great solos and a diligent rhythmic work.
it's no surprise that it took Quicksand Dream 16 years to provide the follow up of “Aelin”. In some ways “Beheading Tyrants” is really an album from the past. Not the urge to follow a specific style’s features , but rather to give out something personal to a dedicated audience.
Recommended for fans of Manilla Road, Solsitce, Cirith Ungol, Black Sabbath.
credits
released November 18, 2016
"An unexpected second album - and the magic is still there!" - Powermetal.de (GER), 8,5/10
"Yes, it’s still olden metal worship but with a more diverse, complex execution and greater heft and power!" - Angry Metal Guy (SWE), 3,5/5
"This is the stuff that will outlive years!" - Strike (GER), 8,5/10
"Fans of Solstice and Cirith Ungol should check this out!" - Amped-Up (BE)
"Epic Stuff - full of mysticism and immense sound!" - Queens Of Metal (E), 8/10
"A highly intensive album!" - Zephyrs Odem (GER), 8/10