When I listened to Dol Ammad for the first time, it became quite clear that Therion has gained a tremendous competitor. Mind you, in many ways this Greek band is unparell

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Like the discovery of a new nebula with the Hubble Space Telescope, Dol Ammad, previously unknown by me, appeared on the (musical) firmament with this debut album. When I listened to Dol Ammad (the bandname comes from the name of a fuel refinery in the computer game Descent 3) for the first time, it became quite clear that Therion has gained a tremendous competitor. Mind you, in many ways this Greek band is unparelleled. This Greek band is the brainchild of the composer and keyboardist Thanasis Lightbridge, who has been influenced by for example Jean Michel Jarre and Vangelis. It's not often that people with that background start a metal band. Where Therion uses choirs to support their lead vocalist; in Dol Ammad the choirs (six males, six females) -are- the leading vocals. The guitarsound is versatile and seems to be influenced by death metal as well as classic hard rock, for example Deep Purple. Also bands like Bal Sagoth and Ayreon have been influential. The drums on this record were performed by the very competent Alex Holzwarth, known from Sieges Even and Rhapsody. All this combined produces a stirring and intense final result; the classical, symphonic and orchestral "Electronica Art Metal", which has a science fiction theme, sounds cosmic and grand. This space opera summons visions of alien civilisations, enormous space fleets and intergalactic schemes.
After the futuristic intro track Dreamport, which has been adorned with an alien sounding voice, Eclipse breaks loose with both choirs, roaring synths, intense double bass drums and heavy riffs. As if this isn't pulverizing enough, scifi sounds and lots of piano parts are added to the mix as well. Weaver's Dance starts with etnic and psychedelic sounds, the tension in this track is subtly tuned up with feral guitars, almost jazzy synth parts and the gradually arising female choir before it erupts with full force. Boxed Daylight (Part I) is a typical in between track with synths, percussion and the female choir, Boxed Daylight (Part II) continues in the vein of Part I but is heavier because of both choirs singing and the simple fact that it rocks more. The Veil (Seven-Face Danger) is a well dosed opera rock/metal track with many piano parts, lithe drumming and several nice tension arches. Back To The Zone reminds me a bit of the band Summoning; this neoclassical track starts with the sound of a lute and features a marching rhythm as connecting-piece. Master Of All starts with all guns blazing: oppressive metal riffs, both choirs, rumbling percussion and spatial melodies from electronic origin. After a pleasant, Dargaard-esque neoclassical moment the track breaks loose again. The drum intro with keyboard support of The Hill Of Hope soon runs over into another well dosed track in which all elements work together in a variable and concordant way. The result can be called majestic as well as propelling. Birth Of Kruug opens in a threatening way with the female choir welling up and draining away in a ghostly fashion, which is followed by a thunderstorm and a solitary churchbell reverberating; a church organ takes it from there. This track is the intro for Vortex 3003, an intense and varying track in the same vein as Eclipse: raging! Mission Butterfly has a playing time of ten minutes and is a fitting closing piece of this surprising album.
This record was released at the end of 2004, work has already started on a successor with the sea as source of inspiration. Until that second album is available we'll have to do with Star Tales, since we're dealing with a magnificent cd here that shouldn't be a problem at all!