CoC : Winter's Dawn - The Dawn Is Coming : Review

Winter's Dawn - _The Dawn Is Coming_
by: Quentin Kalis (4 out of 5)

This review is essentially for archival purposes only, as this promo has succeeded in its intended purpose and the Hellenic trio are now signed to Heart of Steel with an album due out in May. It's not hard to understand why this happened: the songs are well-written, with catchy melodies performed by more than competent musicians. The singer is no slouch either, possessing a powerful and melodic voice. (A bit too high-pitched for my taste, but no matter.) Plus, implicit support from Jeff Waters (Annihilator) who provides a solo on "Raptors" couldn't have hindered their label hunt. An improved production would suit their purposes better, but it is pretty decent and is not a major flaw. Winter's Dawn operate within the classic heavy metal and power metal field, indebted to the transatlantic power style (think Jag Panzer, Crimson Glory and Iced Earth) rather than the European style. Their approach is consistent yet varied, ranging from the climactic power ballad feel of the title track through to the energetic headbanger "Raptors", sure to be a future live favourite. Power and I are barely on speaking terms these days, but their combination of intelligent songwriting and strong performance gets the thumbs up.

Contact: http://www.myspace.com/wintersdawnmetal

(article published 5/5/2009)