I love Teutonic power metal. I love how basically every band sounds like Gamma Ray or Blind Guardian in varying degrees, as well as their wocalists’ perpetual inability to pronounce the phoneme v. There’s a comfort to be found in the formula; lucky me, then, that Germany tends to produce a greater ratio of quality power metal bands than most other regions. Thornbridge is a prime example of such quality, a relatively young yet proven band that favors the sub-sub stylization of Orden Ogan worship. Their debut What Will Prevail impressed with its eclectic vigor, and its follow-up Theatrical Masterpiece streamlined the formula as well as any sophomore effort ever has. Daydream Illusion, Thornbridge’s 5-years-later third round, further narrows their scope. The ol’ reliable atmosphere of cheesy Teutonic comfort food remains satisfying, even if something is amiss in the execution.
Where Theatrical Masterpiece saw Thornbridge culling much of their heavier elements in favor of stronger lead guitar emphasis, Daydream Illusion nixes heaviness almost entirely. This results in a more traditional power metal record with a purely melodic focus, one that I can’t say I prefer over Thornbridge’s prior efforts, but that nonetheless stands out in the band’s burgeoning discography. This means cuts like the wistful “Kingdom of Starlight” and the band’s debut ballad “Send Me a Light” are totally distinct in Thornbridge’s catalog, and are particularly memorable as a result. Thornbridge still excels when indulging in outright speed, with “Sacrifice” and “Final War” making for explosive high points. Even with its lighter riff-deficient thesis, Daydream Illusion is still immediately recognizable as a Thornbridge album, proving they have crafted a singularly enjoyable sound despite their obvious sources of inspiration.
As enjoyable and addictive as Daydream Illusion is, its absence of aggressive riffs ultimately makes it a less impactful offering. Yet putting the riffs aside, when stacked against its preceding sister records, the record’s energy feels lacking. Many of these songs, while melodically compelling, chug along at a tempo that invokes a motorist stubbornly cruising in the fast lane just under the speed limit. Sure, “Island of My Memories,” “My Last Desire,” and “Lost on the Dark Side” technically qualify as “fast” power metal tracks thanks to their steady double bass drives, but they feel as slow as they could possibly be without actually qualifying for “mid-paced” territory. This makes the actual mid-paced cuts somehow feel more vigorous by comparison. The resulting pacing imbalance is frustrating, especially because it feels like Thornbridge could have improved this record’s presence greatly by stepping on the gas just a bit harder.
Tempo issues aside, none of the material here falls short of goodness, even if the bulk of it is merely good. Much of Daydream Illusion’s likeability is owed to Thornbridge’s melodic chops. Most songs strike a tone that feels simultaneously triumphant and melancholic, much like Orden Ogan at their peak (back when Orden Ogan was peak). The sticky vocal melodies are delivered once again by Jörg “Mo” Naneder, who, in keeping with this record’s trimmed aesthetic, has disappointingly simplified his delivery. I think it’s safe to say that his aggressive vocal mode from What Will Prevail has been retired from Thornbridge, but his standard cleans have taken a hit in power as well, perhaps as a byproduct of Daydream Illusion’s legato melodic phrasing. He’s still a likable and charismatic singer and a great fit for the band, but I expect more from his performances by now.
And that’s the story of Daydream Illusion in a nutshell: a solid and thoroughly enjoyable power metal record, but one that would be more appealing had Thornbridge not previously elevated my expectations with better offerings. This album gives me an elusive yet highly specific feeling, one I eventually pinpointed as being identical to my feelings towards Invincible Shield. A quality record on all accounts, and one that has appealed to many who just want to hear Judas Priest doing Judas Priest things, but also one that pales when stacked against its creators’ greatest successes. On one hand, it’s a downer to hear Thornbridge hit this point on album number three. On the other, there’s assumedly ample time for the band to prove Daydream Illusion is but a momentary, still-entertaining speedbump on their road to further glory.
Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Massacre Records
Websites: thornbridge.de | facebook.com/thornbridgeband
Releases Worldwide: March 22nd, 2024
