DYNAZTY - Sultans Of Sin (2012)

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Sweden is single-handedly carrying the torch of '80s Hard & Melodic Rock, and DYNAZTY are no exception as they return with "Sultans Of Sin", the band's third consecutive album and the first to feature new guitarist Mike Laver.

Right from the beginning chugging riff of "Come Alive", you know what kind of album this will shape out to be; a true Hard Rock outing, paying dear homage to the flawless 1980's.
The bumping verses and energetic chorus of the opening track get things moving in a fine manner and are followed by "Raise Your Hands", which may be the weakest song on the disc because the main riff has been used to death over the past decade. That is not to say "Raise Your Hands" is bad by any means, but it is just not a worthy follow-up to the powerful knock-out punch of the opening track.
The first single, "Land Of Broken Dreams", picks up the ground lost and I could tell from the first note that this was defiantly the right choice for a single. The song has great hooks, a driving chorus and gang vocals which would play great in a live setting for sure.

A power ballad in the form of "Falling" follows and is one of my favorite tracks on the album. This superb midtempo tune is like the lost gem of a track Whitesnake wish they could still write.
It should be noted that thus far into Sultans Of Sin the band has been performing flawlessly in a true '80s fashion, but Nils Molin should receive most of the credit due to his fantastic delivery on lead vocals. He truly sounds like David Coverdale's long lost son, and that is a big compliment.
The next three tracks, "More Than A Man", "Love Junkie" and "The One To Blame" are all perfect examples of hard driving rock songs played with a definitive amount of catchiness to please all rockers out there.
And it is at this point in the album that we come upon the first real acoustic ballad. Even though electric guitars do eventually rip through the track mid-way, "Back Again" is undeniably the romantic ballad that all the bands in this genre worth their salt crave.
"Bastards Of Rock & Roll" and the title track wrap the album up in a great way. Perhaps the strongest songs of the disc, they exemplify Dynazty's ability to bring on the table the classic eighties with a modern and updated sound. The title track "Sultans Of Sin" is, in fact, a highlight, with its extremely heavy main riff and Molin's screeching vocals.


With "Sultans Of Sin", I can safely say that Dynazty can now be mentioned alongside other major Scandinavian Melodic Hard Rock acts such as H.E.A.T, Crazy Lixx or Treat.
It's a meaty, rockin' and melodic CD, full of power and catchiness, with solid song structures, hot guitar licks and massive eighties-like choruses. Don't worry about vocals because you have a very capable and charismatic lead vocalist in Nils Molin, one of the best singers of the new Swedish generation.
"Sultans Of Sin" may easily rank as one of the greatest 2012 Melodic Hard Rock albums. Definitely a highly recommended listening.


01 - Come Alive
02 - Raise Your Hands
03 - Land Of Broken Dreams
04 - Falling
05 - More Than A Man
06 - Love Junkie
07 - The One To Blame
08 - Back Again
09 - Bastards Of Rock 'N' Roll
10 - Sultans Of Sin


Nils Molin - vocals
Rob Love Magnusson - guitar
Mike Laver - guitar
Joel Fox Apelgren - bass
George Egg - drums




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DYNAZTY - Knock You Down (2011)

Japan Edition


Dynazty is another one of these hyped up and high steam metal bands to come out of Sweden, a country that has been notoriously releasing so many kick ass bands lately.
But if you think these guys just landed on the scene, well, not.
In fact in 2008 they worked with very well known producer Chris Laney and released their debut album 'Bring The Thunder' to some rave reviews around certain circles, mainly in Scandinavia.

Roll forward a couple of years and the band brought their show on the west coast as they recorded their new record "Knock You Down" in Los Angeles and mixed in Stockholm by the expert Chris Laney (again), the album speak of quality and top notch craftsmanship.
"Knock You Down" is a brand new chapter in the band's history as they're now under the protecting wings of Hollywood famed actor Peter Stormare (yes, pretty much the same story as what happened to H.E.A.T).

But do not expect this to be clean and fluffy rock in the vein of H.E.A.T though. Or a 'glammy / sleaze' stuff despite their name including Y's and Z.
Dynazty are strolling down the same path as usual with triple capitol "S" (Steelheart, Slaughter, Skid Row) as perhaps not main influences, but definitely inspiration.
Molin is the old skool powerhouse vocalist and Rob Love Magnusson likes to shred as in the good old days.

Anyway, there's some glitter on the fiery kick starter "Sleeping With The Enemy" and the chop-fueled "The Devil's Playground", both sitting nicely in with the more modern sleaze acts.
They're definitely at their best when they keep things nice and clean (read: old skool) on tracks such as the awesomely catchy "New Sensation" or the brilliant melodic rocker "Hunger For Love" with its addictive chorus line.
Another very retro numbers are the melodic anthemic title track "Knock You Down" (great guitar work), and the scorching "Wild Nights" sustained by a typically '80s riff.

There's also more strength and sharp tracks here, being the best of all "Throne Of China". The prowess of this song has a killer groove and a superb guitar shred reminiscent of some very old-school Dokken riffest, with Magnusson reminding me Jake E. Lee on the solo.
"Mr. Money" is another good one, a strongly guitar based hard rocker with a very contagious gang chorus and a live feel.
On "Brand New Day" and particularly "The Great Delusion" they sound like '90s Skid Row, less gritty but dark and deep.

Japanese bonuses include the acoustics "Too Much Is Not Enough" and "Stand As One", the latter exploding at the middle fully into electric, a very nice semi-ballad.
The best, and one of the highlights on the disc, is the uptempo rocker "One In A Million", with a contagious chorus and nice refrain, a pretty commercial tune featuring very good guitars.

Finally, as a special bonus, "This Is My Life", the scandinavian-only bonus track, also released previously as a single in their homeland. This song was last year's EuroVision winner (In Sweden), and Dynasty's version is really, really good, done in the best Skid Row power ballad tradition, with wide open vocals and extremely melodic guitars.


Dynazty have previously mentioned that they are not interested in sounding like an '80s band. Well, call their manager, because they're very very eighties for the most part.
The overall sound (superbly produced by Chris Laney) is Scandi-Melodic Hard Rock with a bit of sleaze, but the song structures, licks and most the choruses are definitely '80s-L.A. scene.
And that's not a bad thing, on the contrary, they're the best among the new wave of scandinavian MHR bands to capture the old school essence.
"Knock You Down" is a thoroughly enjoyable album, for the most part written and played in high level, featuring very cool choruses, fine melodies and some insane guitar shredding courtesy of Rob Magnusson. Don't worry about vocals because you have a very capable and charismatic lead vocalist in Nils Molin.
This record just jumps out at you and the title is so fitting because it really punch your ears.


01 - Sleeping With The Enemy
02 - Get It On
03 - Mr. Money
04 - Throne Of China
05 - The Devil's Playground
06 - Brand New Day
07 - Hunger For Love
08 - Knock You Down
09 - New Sensation
10 - Wild Nights
11 - The Great Delusion
12 - Too Much Is Not Enough (Japan Bonus track)
13 - One In A Million (Japan Bonus track)
14 - Stand As One (Japan Bonus track)
15 - This Is My Life (Scandinavian Bonus track)


Nils Molin - Vocals
Rob Love Magnusson - Guitars
Joel Fox Apelgren - Bass
George Egg - Drums
Mano Lewys - Guitar (live shows)



www.dynazty.com
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