We’ve been reviewing and chatting to Dynazty at the Rockpit since 2009 – that was the year we started the website and also the year Dynazty dropped their first album ‘Bring the Thunder’. In all those years they’ve never let me down, and this year their ninth release ‘Game of Faces’ might even be their most complete album yet. It’s not often a band 16 years in gets accused of that!
Back in 2009 Dynazty was a sonically very different band with their sound firmly set in slick 80’s Rock meets the Sunset strip. That all changed when album number 4 dropped and the band began producing themselves. At that point they shifted to a more forceful sound that was more Metallic, and as albums dropped they refined that sound wit each release. For me that second phase that included the gems ‘Renatus’, ‘Titanic Mass’ and ‘Firesign’ was a wonderful progression. Some labelled it Power Metal but there was always something more to my ears, maybe it was the lingering trace of those early days?
Since we hit the 20’s Dynazty has been relentless and each album has topped the last. I loved ‘The Dark Delight’ which took them to new heights locally – gold albums and platinum singles no less. Then came 2022’s ‘Final Advent’ their last release on AFM which was perhaps even better but deserved more of a push. That brings us to ‘Game of Faces’ which may be there best yet. It’s a relentless onslaught of high speed Melodic Metal that will leave you breathless. But there’s more to it than that, as I discussed with Nils recently there are two songs in particular that are designed to stand out, but we’ll get to that later, and our interview with Nils will be up this week.
If you want the very definition of coming out with all guns blazing then ‘Call of the Night’ the fist single of 2025 is it. It’s deeply melodic, relentless in pace and opens the album firing on all cylinders. You can hear the entire band in this wonderful production and Nil’s vocals, always impressive, simply soar here.
And this is an album that simply doesn’t pause for breath: ‘Game of Faces’ the title track deals with deception and gets straight to the point; whilst ‘Devilry of Ecstasy’ which you may have already heard rides in on a synth and is one of the catchiest, most hypnotic tracks on the album. It’s ‘Die to Survive’ with it’s guitar patterns and huge refrain though that might just edge favoritism on early listens.
‘Fire to Fight’ then just smashes in to up the ante further and along with ‘Dark Angel’ that follows they make up two of my picks of teh album. They are both huge Melodic rockers that make great driving songs and the latter sees Nils hit some huge notes! ‘Fortune Favors the Brave’ and ‘Sole Survivor’ just keep up the quality without straying far from the addictive sound of the record.
‘Phoenix’ that follows is certainly the most melodic track here and the first of two slight departures in style. There’s no real ease off the pedal just a more lush production and a lighter, more sweeping melody that has far more in common with bands like Eclipse than an ‘Power Metal’ contemporaries. It’s interesting to hear because it retains that trademark no-holds-barred approach, just layers it more. For me it’s a winner!
Interestingly my favourite track after living with this album for a while is the other musical departure ‘Dream of Spring’ which Nils and I discuss in the interview. It’s a huge song, an epic that pushes the boundaries further and shows just what Dynazty is capable of. It’s a grand statement that could be latter day Europe and it’s also the only slower paced song on offer here, making the contrast even more apparent. You’ll love it!
Fittingly closer ‘Mystery’ does just what a final track should do – burns the house down! There’s so much passion and power at pay here you feel like it has all been building up to this release. What an album! Let’s hope with all of the exposure over teh last few years, the Festival dates and the growing home support that this is the one that tips them into the big leagues!
8.5 / 10
Tracklist:
1. Call of the Night 3:34
2. Game of Faces 3:15
3. Devilry of Ecstasy 3:26
4. Die to Survive 3:58
5. Fire to Fight 3:49
6. Dark Angel 4:31
7. Fortune Favors the Brave 4:05
8. Sole Survivor 3:22
9. Phoenix 4:03
10. Dream of Spring 4:52
11. Mystery 3:22
