Released By: Nuclear Blast Records
Release Date: February 14th, 2025
Genre: Melodic Metal
Links: http://www.dynazty.com/
Line Up:
Nils Molin – Vocals
Mike Lavér – Guitars
Rob Love Magnusson – Guitars
Jonathan Olsson – Bass
George Egg – Drums
Tracklist:
1. Call of the Night
2. Game of Faces
3. Devilry of Ecstasy
4. Die to Survive
5. Fire to Fight
6. Dark Angel
7. Fortune Favors the Brave
8. Sole Survivor
9. Phoenix
10. Dream of Spring
11. Mystery
While some bands can at times be unpredictable and blow me away out of nowhere, there are others who are consistently excellent, and I can count on them to deliver every single time they release a new album. One such band is Swedish melodic metal band Dynazty, who I first discovered with their fourth release, Renatus, which turned out to be a game changing album, marking the start of a new era. Ever since that album, Dynazty has built on their established sound with each new release, making subtle changes here and there, while largely sticking to a winning formula. With their recently released ninth full length album, Game of Faces, they remain in top form, showing no signs of slowing down whatsoever.
The lineup has stayed remarkably consistent over the years, with no changes in well over a decade, and that certainly shows in their music, which has maintained a consistent style and tone over the past several albums, while still evolving in subtle ways. Compared to Renatus and Titanic Mass, which were more speedy and power metal oriented, the past couple of releases have been slower, more keyboard driven and more trance infused. This remains true with Game of Faces, as power metal has mostly been relegated to a secondary role, aside from on a couple tracks, and the keyboards are as prominent as ever, leading the way frequently. Guitars remain an important part of their sound, though, and unlike Firesign, which only used heavy riffs sporadically, this album features plenty of that chunky, modern guitar sound they’ve been using since Renatus. The guitar solos are very melodic and power metal infused. Most tracks strike an even balance between guitars and keys, with one often taking over for a while, only for the other to come back in shortly. There are also several moments where both instruments share the spotlight.
The songwriting falls into two main categories: Mid-paced, slightly upbeat tracks with abundant energy that move along at a fairly nice pace without fully speeding up, and slower tracks that move at more of a marching pace with a stronger focus on the rhythm section. While there isn’t extensive variety, and some tracks sound similar, everything is expertly crafted. The album is an absolute joy to listen to from start to finish, so the similarities never become an issue. Most songs follow a formula where the verses are fairly calm and used mostly for buildup, while the choruses go hard and fully allow Nils Molin to steal the show with his powerful, fiery vocals. Later sections typically feature an epic solo, and the final chorus often utilizes a key change, allowing Molin to really showcase his range. This approach has served them well throughout their past several albums, and it continues to deliver. Performances are strong across the board – guitars and keyboards sound excellent, the rhythm section is great, and Molin is absolutely fantastic, as always. Production is equally impressive, with everything sounding crisp and powerful, consistent with their previous albums.
One could describe the album as “predictable,” as there aren’t many surprises or significant changes compared to their past few releases. The band has clearly settled into their sound and is simply having fun with it. However, when a group is on such a creative roll, that hardly matters. While this album may be slightly less memorable than either The Dark Delight or Final Advent, lacking some of their major standout moments, it maintains consistent excellence throughout. If anything, deep familiarity with their sound might explain why no tracks here left me as astonished as some of their past work.
With all that said, let’s examine the songs themselves. Opening track “Call of the Night” is an upbeat, trance infused melodic metal piece that balances heavy, guitar focused sections with more laidback, keyboard driven parts. It starts off with dark, atmospheric keys, before a brief section where melodic guitars kick in. The opening verse blends heavy guitars and light keys, moving at a moderate pace before the chorus accelerates slightly while showcasing Molin’s talents. Though not one of their more immediately striking opening tracks, it’s still excellent overall, with a particularly outstanding power metal infused guitar solo. Next comes the title track, a very modern sounding melodic metal song with bouncy keys and heavy guitars throughout. The verses proceed at a slow pace, alternating between soft, keyboard-dominated passages and sections where chunky riffs take center stage. The chorus delivers a satisfying mix of keys, melodic guitar work and excellent vocal melodies. Both the melodic guitar solo in the second half and the epic final chorus run stand out as highlights.
Lead single “Devilry of Ecstasy” initially felt somewhat underwhelming, with its chorus particularly reminiscent of their past work. While that impression partially remains, the track has grown considerably more appealing over time. It opens with light, trance infused keys before guitars enter. The opening section maintains an upbeat energy until the first verse, where the pace slows as drums, vocals and electronic beats lead the way, with guitars making periodic appearances. The more energetic chorus bears some similarity to “Heartless Madness,” though it’s not quite as memorable despite being engaging and catchy. The second verse introduces more of their signature heavy guitar sound, and the guitar solo impresses as expected. “Die to Survive” marks the first truly striking track on initial listen. This slower-paced song carries more of an arena rock feel, a characteristic that surfaces throughout the album’s middle and later sections. While heavy guitars appear in brief bursts, keyboards dominate the arrangement alongside a prominent rhythm section. The verses establish a steady beat and distinct rhythm that adds extra energy. The chorus shines with its keyboard-driven melody and Molin’s phenomenal vocal performance. It ranks among the album’s most infectious and melodic offerings.
“Fire to Fight” begins with elegant melodic guitar work before transitioning to a keyboard-driven opening verse. The vocal melodies and keyboard sounds during the verses evoke Sabaton, while the chorus picks up the pace with more of a trance metal atmosphere. The guitar solo arrives earlier than anticipated and proves to be a highlight, along with the final chorus. “Dark Angel” emerges as the album’s fastest track, opening with an ominous keyboard introduction before melodic guitars enter and the tempo immediately accelerates. It features some of the album’s finest melodic guitar work before shifting to a darker, heavier sound. The opening verse minimizes guitar work and keys in favor of drums, bass and vocals, maintaining a catchy, distinctive rhythm. This builds into the album’s most rapid-fire chorus, combining frantic drums, melodic guitar work and abundant trance-infused keys with an extraordinary performance from Molin. His high notes during the final run stand as the album’s pinnacle moment. The classically power metal-influenced guitar solo also excels. While the entire album impresses, this track takes the crown as the standout.
“Fortune Favors the Bold” maintains the high standard as a lighter, keyboard-focused piece. It blends bouncy keys with melodic guitar work, never pushing too hard or fast, instead maintaining a more measured pace and emphasizing keys and vocal melodies. The chorus particularly shines in its melodic catchiness. The guitar solo delivers excellence as expected, and Molin unleashes some fantastic additional vocals toward the conclusion. “Sole Survivor” continues the momentum with Sabaton-reminiscent keys, though the track itself leans more toward melodic metal, featuring bouncy keys and balanced heavy and melodic guitar work. The chorus flows beautifully, led by drums and keys while Molin delivers outstanding vocal melodies. The final run ranks second only to “Dark Angel” in its epic scope. “Phoenix” rounds out the uptempo offerings, opening with strong melodic guitar work before settling into another measured opening verse led by drums, bass and vocals. Unlike “Dark Angel,” the guitars emerge sooner, well before transitioning into the predictably upbeat, fun, melodic and catchy chorus. Trance elements feature prominently, with keys and vocals taking center stage.
The album’s sole ballad, “Dream of Spring,” immediately establishes an epic atmosphere through background chanting and slightly martial drumming. Melodic guitar work and light, atmospheric keys weave throughout, especially during verses. The chorus introduces slightly more weight while remaining melodic, clearly designed to showcase Molin, who delivers a powerful, emotionally charged performance. While the final chorus run predictably stands out, a beautiful guitar solo precedes it, and the entire composition impresses. Album closer “Mystery” maintains a fairly relaxed pace with strong arena rock influences. Melodic guitar work and trance-infused keys appear throughout, while the chorus features magnificent background choral vocals that enhance its epic feel. This triumphant, larger-than-life track succeeds brilliantly. The chorus and guitar solo shine brightest, with a particularly epic final chorus run providing a fitting conclusion.
At this stage, Dynazty reviews practically write themselves – they’ve mastered their sound and confidently stick to what works. They’ve certainly become predictable, as their recent albums consistently deliver trance-infused melodic metal emphasizing keys, melodic guitar work and stellar vocal melodies, punctuated by their signature chunky, heavy guitar work. However, they’ve repeatedly proven the effectiveness of their formula, making it difficult to fault their commitment to it. Though The Dark Delight and Final Advent left a marginally stronger impression, Game of Faces maintains their standard of excellence. Longtime fans will find plenty to enjoy, and anyone seeking high-quality melodic metal with exceptional vocals should explore this or any recent Dynazty release, as they’ve clearly established themselves among the genre’s elite.
Ratings: 9/10
Written by: Travis Green
My Global Mind – Staff Writer
Travis Green is a Canadian based writer for My Global Mind, with a particular passion for power metal, as well as an interest metal in all its forms.
https://open.spotify.com/album/08AMSf5EM3u6mALyDL1vYU?si=bSNyxLSoR3iBprHhm6Aj7g
About Author
