Dreadzone – Once Upon A Time

Overall it is OK I guess. But with a guerilla on the front cover, the album comes across far too nice. Covering "Games People Play" was maybe not the best decision. More tracks like "The Warriors" is what this album needed.

Too bad, but for me Dreadzone kind of lost it on this album. Whereas their sound is known for its specific, organic, lively vibe, with clever use of samples, this albums just can't hide its computer roots. It's too formulaic, too digital and - never thought I would have to say this about the Dreadzone that gave us 360°, Performance, Second Light and Biological Radio - a tad uninspired. Potentially interesting ideas just never seem able to escape or grow out their place of birth : a dead sounding, repetitive and mechanical computer. Some hardcore rockers might get their stereotype vision on electronics confirmed : this breathes Reason and other Fruityloops and it does it way too hard. Maybe this material might sound somewhat better live, but the album version lets me down. No thriving and overall far too clean rhythms, rather stereotype synths, even the bass isn't rolling as usual. That's said with all the pain in the heart a fan of Dreadzone's massive sound can have. Far from Zion now, I'm afraid.