Dark Illusion are a band that actually date back to 1982 when a bunch of school mates together in Stockholm. With limited success back then they call it quits in 1985. Fast forward to 2003 when guitarist & songwriter, Tomas Hultqvist, got the band together again to record an EP. In 2005 their debut album, "Beyond The Shadows", was released with a slightly different lineup including Thomas Wikström on vocals. Things went quiet again until by 2009 they had enough new material for this new album.
Dark Illusion have a lot in common with the other album I'm reviewing at the moment - Dawn of Silence. Both bands play melodic power metal, with Hammerfall being a common reference point. Like the Dawn Of Silence album the music is well executed and the production is good.
Dark Illusion obviously love this type of music and they aren't seeking to change it. They stay within the known boundaries of the style, so it you're looking for invention then look elsewhere. As I said in the Dawn of Silence review I'm a casual listener to this metal sub-genre as it hasn't really greatly captured my imagination in the past. However, I've enjoyed listening to both these albums. Dark Illusion keep the 'pedal to the metal' as they romp through this uptempo set of songs which hint at Dio & The Scorpions influences somewhere along the line.
Rating: 4 stars
