Deep Sun – Dreamland – Behind The Shades

Deep Sun
Dreamland – Behind The Shades
Label: Massacre Records
Out: June 10th, 2022
Playing time: 47:30

The last album “Das Erbe der Welt” by the Swiss Symphonic Metallers Deep Sun left me with mixed feelings. There was too much confusion in the stylistic elements used. Three years later, the successor is in the record shops.

Much has changed during the making of this album: The line-up, songwriting, sound, and logo. DEEP SUN have reconnected with themselves more than ever and are moving forward on the already successfully trodden path with even more confidence.

However, the changes in the line-up were that big. Only guitarist Stephan Riner is new on board. I’m curious to see how much the sound has changed.

The intro on this album is called “Prologue”. And starts with piano sounds. Later, an epic choir can be heard. The sound becomes o after and more powerful. Before it goes into the introductory song “Behind The Shades” without a break. And since this is part of the album title, you can confidently call it the title song. After a hard riffing, orchestral synth sounds dominate. I already liked Debora Lavagnolo’s singing very much on the predecessor and it also comes into its own here. A first highlight follows with “Dreammaster”. Beautiful melodies in the midtempo range, big choruses and a forward whipping double bass. You think you know the anthemic “Living The Dream” from the first second on. The stylistic elements well known from symphonic metal have been skilfully woven into something new but still familiar sounding. The icing on the cake of this song is a short, filigree guitar solo. Of course, a ballad must not be missing on the album. And in “In Silence”, Debora surprises with a somewhat deeper vocal range in places. At first only minimally orchestrated with acoustic guitars, drums and keyboard strings are added later. Simply breathtaking. On “Secret Garden” the Swiss sound like early Nightwish. “Mitternachtstanz” is a bit out of the ordinary. On the one hand because of the German lyrics. On the other hand because of the clearly audible folk influence. Another highlight of the album. Reminds me a little of Coronatus. After a quiet start, “Hands In Anger” is one of the heaviest songs on the album. Wild double bass playing and interspersed growls provide Metallic hardness. The singer also frequently leaves her usual soprano range for harsher vocals. “Rogue (Dreaming Leprechaun Pt. II)” offers another folk edge. You can clearly imagine the Irish kobold dreaming wildly to himself. The album ends with “Euphoria”. A mixture of powerful Metal and contemplative parts.

Clearly, I like “Dreamland – Behind The Shades” much better than “Das Erbe der Welt”. Deep Sun have gone back to their roots. That’s probably mainly because they didn’t impose such a strict concept.  In my opinion, album number three is the best work in the band’s history so far. So there is nothing to fear for the future of the genre of Symphonic Metal.

Deep Sun – Dreammaster (Official Video): https://youtu.be/oOJs_rwtRhY

Lineup:

Debora Lavagnolo – Vocals
Stephan Riner – Gitarren
Angelo Salerno – Bass
Tom Hiebaum – Keyboard
Tobias Brutschi – Drums

Track list:

• Prologue
• Behind The Shades
• Dreammaster
• Living The Dream
• Killer In A Dream
• In Silence
• Secret Garden
• Mitternachtstanz
• Hands In Anger
• Rogue (Dreaming Leprechaun Pt. II)
• Euphoria