TRANCE-LIKE STATE

Trance-Like State is Dreamscape's first album. It was released in 1997, a year in which most new prog metal bands strived to copy Dream Theater's sound. So, the question is? is Dreamscape yet another Dream Theater clone? Happily, despite the sound-alike name, the answer is no. Wolfgang Kerinnis, the guitar player and main composer insists that he has kept the name since 1986, when Dream Theater were still called Majesty.

They do belong to the German 90s progressive metal scene, along with groups like Soul Cages, Vanden Plas and Everon, in which being melodic, atmospheric and creating good songs is more important than showing off their undeniable music skills (which do show up in the compositions). Not to mention the heavy German pronunciation of English that one learns to get used to after a while. Another group that comes in mind is Conception, as singer Tobi Zoltan does remind us of Rhoy Khan's whining and the rhythm guitars sound similar to Tore Ostby's. Despite similarities, from their first album, they manage to pave their own way in the progressive 90s.

A Trance-Like State indeed. Expect lots of atmospheric keyboard passages, some piano and mostly mid-tempo compositions enriched with heavy guitar playing. The exception here is the speedy 'Don't take care', that seems to be screaming: 'I'm your Under a Glass Moon'! There are also a number of ballads and slower pieces, all with a great deal of atmosphere and passion. Songs that stand out are the opener, 'Spirits' and the beautiful 'Streets', with the main riff fading out in the end. Both 'Changes' and 'Face your Fears' have interesting prog instrumental sections. However, my favourite is the last tune, 'The Wall', that leaves you with a positive taste at the end of the album.

The disadvantages of this album are its unbalanced production and the vocals. Dreamscape self produced the album, so one keeps considering how better the songs would have sounded after some experienced producer's touch. The lyrics are simplistic and not well pronounced at times. They do however explore various concepts successfully, as in 'Face your Fears', which deals with a man that grows up not daring to open a door, not knowing what he will find on the other side.

All in all, Trance-Like State is good, but not essential for your Progressive Metal collection. However, it is the testament of a group of talented musicians at the beginning of their career, who have managed to keep the standards high even in their first release.

Now, I love Dreamscape, and over the years have come to consider them one of my favourite bands. Being cursed with a collectors OCD of having to own everything an artist puts out, their first album was a tough one to track down on disc, and when I finally did... I kind of wish I hadn't.

Damn OCD!

Considering that the good songs on this album would be re-recorded for the bands 'Revoiced' record, most of what we get here just feel like leftovers. And of the supposed "good ones", they just seem lifeless without later vocalist Roland Stoll. Perhaps it's just reflective of that mid-90's lull for metal bands, and in particular, other than a few notable big bands, progressive metal was still mostly an unknown subgenre that was relegated to the underground scene. Either way, 'Trance-Like State' just isn't an interesting release.

The musicianship is brilliant, as you'd expect from a band playing this style of music, and the production is alright, though nothing quite jumps out at you. There's a few good songs, such as 'Spirits', 'Face Your Fears' and 'Decisions', but in all honesty, there's not really anything here that makes me want to come back to this album.

With a staggering duration of 65 minutes, and a singer that sounds like he's taking it all way too seriously, 'Trance-Like State' just fails to deliver. Dreamscape are an awesome band however, and if you're new to them then you're better off starting with 'Revoiced' and discarding their first two albums.

Unless you're a collector like me! Damn OCD!