Italians Neverdream present their first full length album. This tells the true story of German teen Christiane F., who got into hard drugs in 1970s Berlin. Definitely quite an unique concept for a metal album, but how about the music?

Neverdream actually try hard. The band's style is dark prog metal mixed with adult oriented rock, and they don't remind me of any other band. But Neverdream are no Evergrey, no, as the band fail to submit the emotions the story contains. Too often, the songs feel that they were built with "let's generate the next part" method. There is no flow in the music. Some parts are okay, of course, but when there is no memorable music or good composition around them, they become insignificant. When it comes to technicality, it is only on minor level, and is there really any truly progressive elements? No. 'Zoologischer Garten (Hell's Gate)' is the hit song on this one, but it has nothing to do with metal music. It actually sounds like an Eros Ramazotti stuff and let me tell you; I hate Eros R.!

This brings us to vocals. They do not fit with heavier music. On calmer parts, the vocals are okay. But on the whole, they are just weak and I do not like vibration, which is everywhere. Instrumental 'Narkonon' actually is the most interesting song on offer. This is totally self-produced work. Soundwise this is on demo level. Everything else is quite clear, but guitars were probably meant to be heavy-as-fuck, but sound muddy. The band's performance is good, but that alone is not enough.

Neverdream have taken a step that turned out to be too big. Maybe some prog metal fanatics might find something interesting here, but I want music that I can remember something about!

Rating: 3- (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
02/05/2007 21:12