French power metal outfit Eternal Flight has returned with their third album, Diminished Reality, Elegies And Mysteries. Featuring Gérard Fois on vocals (whose singing style at times reminds me of Zack Stevens of Savatage/Circle II Circle), acoustic guitars, keys, Julien Bouvier (guitars), Julien Racine (drums), Adrien Zoni (bass) and
Chris "Stollen" Gojon(guitars). The album also features guest solos from world-class guitarists Mark Mc Gee (ex Vicious Rumors), Chris Caffery (Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Savatage) from USA and Rob Love Magnusson (Dynazty).

Musically, D.R.E.A.M.S. is chock full of melodic power metal with progressive flourishes. Standout tracks include the epic sound of “Fantasea”, the old school crunch of “Freedom is my Race”, progressive/epic/heaviness of “Nightmare King”, and the melodic ballad “Black Sun”(in which Gerard’s lower register reminds me of Zack era Savatage). ‘The Meeting” features a middle eastern guitar solo and percussion intro and then transforms into a Priest style rocker. My favorite track is the headbanging “The Tower”, full of crunch, melody, and Gerard’s soaring vocals.

The mix was a little flat in my opinion, especially the drums, which I had to deduct a couple of points, but overall, this disc is a winner and will please any fan of melodic power metal! 

Rating: 7.5