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Mercenary - 11Dreams


*
=Staff's pick

Into the Sea Of Dark Desires
World Hate Center
11 Dreams*
ReDestructDead
Firesoul*
Sharpen The Edges
Supremacy v2.0*
Music Non Stop
Falling
Times Without Changes*
Loneliness*


Genre Progressive Thrash Metal
Mikkel Sandager, Kral
Vocals
Tracks 11
Jakob Mölbjerg
Guitar
Runningtime 62 Min.
Martin Buus
Guitar
Label Century Media
Kral
Bass
Release 23 August 2004
Mike Park
Drums
Country Denmark
Morten Sandager
Keyboards
Similar artists Nevermore, Evergrey, Pathos

Danish band Mercenary is back with their third and what is definitely their strongest album, and with two new members in the line-up. Mercenary has matured considerably with most of everything; their songs are more complex and more progressive as the songwrinting has become much more elaborated. The thrash based music has turned softer, more melodic and orchestrated. A healthy thing is that the orchestration is kept in the background so it just enhances the complete sound picture instead of playing besides the rest of the instruments taking away any focus from any of them. So there is a lot that has happened since their last album Everblack (2002), the vocals from Mikkel Sandager was good before but now he has taken his voice to a much higher level.

11 Dreams feels not as dark as the predecessor but has a more warm sense over it instead. Their sound is not to be mistaken about here either, but they are taking wider turns with more melodies and harmonies in the music this time, and it is all for the good. Mercenary has as I see it two major influences that can be found in their music, Nevermore and Evergrey, those two bands combined leads you on a good way on how this sounds. The music is based in the heavier areas with a driving thrash force with progressive elements like Nevermore, and then topped with emotion and melancholy in their melodies in the vein of Evergrey.

The length on the tracks has been set longer and five of the tracks clocks in around the seven minute mark or even longer. With this they have gone for a more grand feeling with their songs and the title track 11 Dreams displays a good example of that, and also Firesoul that has a great powerful melodic ending, just like a heavy version of Evergrey. These longer songs spans over all of what Mercenary is about, blending bone-crushing riffs and soft melodic parts with a mix of growls and clean vocals, all done with a grand feeling. All of the tracks seem to have been very well thought through and made into perfection, and even though I'm a resistant person against ballads I must say that I like the one on this album, it actually touches me with the great voice Mikkel showcases here and the emotion that Time Without Changes possesses.

Even though there is a softer and more melodic tone on 11 Dreams there are still heavy beats and Machine Head riffing to be found as they have kept the more basic and more direct thrash numbers as well. Perhaps no brutal attacks but it is thrash in the bottom alright, Mercenary has become a distinguished band that ought to be getting some reckoning with their release of 11 Dreams. The growls have also been taken a step back, and that is a good thing that gives more room for the great clean vocals from Mikkel Sandager. There is nothing wrong with the growls from Kral but with the clean vocals the refrains are strong as steel together with melodic stuff they fills their music with.

Everything is being kept in control, no guitar solos that gets carried away or evil growls when not needed, a splendid balance and a quality craftsmanship done by the guys. It is all balanced with the guitar solos, the keyboard playing, the harmonies and heavy riffing, nothing is overdone but it is all there to fill the purpose to move the music forward. And there is also something about the drums, the sound from them is really great and they are being perfectly mastered by new member Mike Park, add that as another thing that has lifted Mercenary to really become a band to be counted with.

How to make a song from Swedish pop band Kent sound good? Throw it into the hands of six Danes and let them have their way with it. Music Non Stop is originally done by a popular but yet in my opinion mediocre band named Kent and Mercenary actually managed to breath some life in that track. And this track further shows that Kent actually can write good songs, it is just that they can't perform them. Although it is the weakest track on the album and I would have preferred another one of their own beautiful creations instead.

See also review of: Through Our Darkest Days , Architect Of Lies , The Hours That Remain , Everblack

Production
Vocals
Compositions

8

8

8

 
Summary



8 chalices of 10 - Thomas

Related links:

www.mercenary.dk