"Phantoms Of The Past" is the debut record from DREAM PATROL, an international Hard Rock / Classic Rock band featuring members from USA, Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Austria. The name is said to be inspired by the '80s movies A Nightmare On Elm Street, where the victims are murdered in their dreams by the monster Freddy Krueger.
The 'Dream Patrol' is a special combat force intended to protect against that type of threat... silly? Not at all, it's all about fun, and musically, these guys are darn awesome.
This description, along with how they classify their genre is immediately given justice by opener self-titled track “Dream Patrol” featuring every element of '80s hard rock: the groovy bass lines are very dominant and assertive, the guitar parts are plotted to give you a nostalgia of packed stadiums, and the singing is great, powerful and clean.
There's various influences all over the CD, and this benefits its variation. Track 2 'Get Back Home' is heavier, some kind of a tribute to '80s US Metal, a mix of Armored Saint and Riot with great impact.
And then Dream Patrol twist things again and surprise us with “Tattooed Millionaire From Panama”. This is a mashup of Bruce Dickinson’s 'Tattooed Millionaire' and Van Halen’s 'Panama', and works awesomely. It takes 'Panama' crazy riff and ''Tattooed...' main melody to create a superb melodic hard rock song, catchy as Hell.
They change again with 'The Shortest Straw', a midtempo classic rocker with clear bluesy American influences from the '80s. In fact, the complete album is a homage to the last forty years in hard rock / classic rock
Title track 'Phantoms of the Past' is so nostalgic, so anthemic it would make a good soundtrack for Space Sheriff Shaider (anyone remember that?). Think 'Transformers', but the only way you can understand this is to listen to the song yourself and wait for the one minute mark.
More variety comes by the hand of 'Lost Child' and later 'Time Is a Healer', both acoustically guitar driven songs but quite uptempo and melodic. Again, a tribute to US rock with some early Eighties FM feeling (read The Eagles and alike).
'Stand up and Fight' has traces of classic NWOBHM in every single aspect but in its more commercial side. The song is a standout in terms of intensity and energy.
Then, plenty of pristine guitar swirls and lovely keys / synths, 'Piece of Paradise' is a killer melodic hard rocker that easily could have been part of any '80s 'action movie' soundtrack. Love this kind of stuff. A winner.
'Is That the Thanks I Get' returns to midtempo, some acoustics mixed with electrics and that American feeling, while hard rocker 'Playing with Fire' reminds me of an old Y&T song. In fact, the guitar tone all over the recording is quite similar to Dave Meniketti circa 1983.
They end with the epic midtempo 'Haunted Tower', another solid homage to classic hard rock from both sides of the ocean.
"Phantoms Of The Past" is a really enjoyable and very, very well done tribute to the classy hard rock sounds of all time. Dream Patrol take these influences and made their own, this is not a copy-cat collection of songs, all are originals and cleverly round up.
The record has a great production value. Sonically is crisp, clear, and big sounding. The songs are well written, and the performances are excellent. Powerful vocals and lush harmonies elevate the melodic content to an exceptional level.
Fans of timeless classic Hard Rock - and related - need to check this one pronto.
Highly Recommended
01 - Dream Patrol
02 - Get Back Home
03 - Tattooed Millionaire from Panama
04 - The Shortest Straw
05 - Phantoms of the Past
06 - Lost Child
07 - Stand up and Fight
08 - Time Is a Healer
09 - Piece of Paradise
10 - Is That the Thanks I Get
11 - Playing with Fire
12 - Haunted Tower
Eli Prinsen - lead & backing vocals
Filip Koluš - guitars, acoustic guitar
Ronnie König - bass, backing vocals, programing
Radim Večeřa - drums
special guest:Libor Křivák – lead & rhythm guitars
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