American progressive heavy metal with the roots somewhere in the eighties, combined with a taste for NWOBHM. In 2008 I was already very happy with their debut 'Gears of the Machine' and this new album isn't bad either. The style is more progressive and in some songs they even use some aggressive and harsher vocals. Perhaps the songs could have done without them, but after a while you get used to it.
The first track is a very progressive and long song, which is a little bit a struggles to get through for the first time, but after that the rest of the record listens away easier. They combine influences of Queensryche, Savatage, Kamelot, Iced Earth, Iron Maiden, Dream Theater, Symphony X, Fates Warning and many more. Another fact is that all the members are excellent musicians and that this band knows how to write good songs. I'm not sure if I like this record better than the predecessor. The first time I was a bit more enthusiastic, but that's because I didn't know what to expect. With a second album there are always high expectations and sometimes too high.
Listening to the songs over and over again, the real strength and beauty of the album surfaces. Like on the first album the songs have a dark vibe over them. Sacred Dawn has once more released an album that is above average and I certainly can recommend it to you. Second mission successfully completed.
