Unisonic – Light of dawn

album by:
Unisonic
Version:
CD
Price:
10.71

Reviewed by:
Rating:
5
On 23 July 2014
Last modified:23 July 2014

Summary:

It's a great album and is highly recommended for fans of Unisonic, Helloween, Gamma Ray and more.

unisonic - light of dawnIn June Unisonic released their EP “For the Kingdom” to whet the appetite of fans for this their second album.  The band emerged two years ago, releasing a debut EP and following that with an album.  The band hit the headlines for reuniting two legends of German rock/metal – Kai Hansen and Michael Kiske, reunited 23 years after they formed part of Helloween. As well as featuring Michael Kiske and Kai Hansen, the band features Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69), Mandy Meyer (Krokus, ex Asia, ex Gotthard) and Kosta Zafirou (ex Pink Cream 69), so it’s a band whose members all have impressive track records.

The EP only contained one song from the new album, along with another new song and several live tracks, so almost all the songs on this album are brand new to the fans.

Brief comments on a few tracks….

The album kicks off with “Venite 2.0” which is a short orchestral track that serves as an intro to the album.

“Your time has come” is the first proper song, and with those great vocals from Michael Kiske and some lovely guitar work from Kai Hansen, it brings back memories of some of the classic Helloween albums.

The early part of “Throne of the dawn” definitely has a Black Sabbath feel to the guitar work – it feels like a slowed down Sabbath riff, and is something that they came up with while playing around in the studio.  It’s a great little section which then leads into the main part of the song, which does still keep a slightly heavier guitar riff than normal.

The chorus for “You and I” does sound quite like Rod Stewart’s “Sailing”, but despite this it’s a very good track.  It’s a slow ballad and the vocals show how versatile Michael Kiske’s voice is.  Instead of his powerful vocals he’s singing a much softer song here and it sounds great.

I’ve been listening to this album for a couple of weeks before sitting down to write the review, and I’m still loving it just as much now as I did on that first listen.  It’s a great album and is highly recommended for fans of Unisonic, Helloween, Gamma Ray and more.

“Light of dawn” will be released in the UK on 4th August 2014.

Track listing:

1. Venite 2.0
2. Your time has come
3. Exceptional
4. For the kingdom
5. Not gonna take anymore
6. Night of the long knives
7. Find shelter
8. Blood
9. When the deed is done
10. Throne of the dawn
11. Manhunter
12. You and I
13. Judgement day (bonus track on Deluxe edition)

It's a great album and is highly recommended for fans of Unisonic, Helloween, Gamma Ray and more.

About Ant May

I spend half my life at gigs or festivals and the other half writing the reviews and editing photos, and somehow find time for a full time job too. Who needs sleep - I've got coffee.