Band:	Dream Quest
Album:	Centralia
Style:	Power metal
Release date:	July 30, 2006
Guest review by:	ForestsAlive

01. Forgiv'r
02. The Fuse That Burned Too Fast
03. Magnified
04. Sonar Con Aventura
05. Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Die

Centralia is probably one of the best progressive power metal albums of all time that nobody really talks about.

Dream Quest is surely a horribly uninspired name for a power metal group. And don’t get me started on that horrendous album cover that screams mediocrity. It is a miracle I gave this band a chance back in 2008 when this album miraculously appeared in my mp3 player. I guess I was intrigued by the song titles that suggested that the band does not take themselves seriously or that the whole thing is some kind of parody or satire; turns out it is.

Thankfully, behind all the unattractive layers lies the music itself, which is definitely no joke. Dream Quest plays a form of progressive power metal that is stripped of any keys and orchestrations that would associate them with Dream Theater or Rhapsody. Actually, they detach themselves from a lot of the cheesiness of operatic vocals, over-the-top instrumentations, and D&D themes. So the overall aesthetic is already a huge plus and should attract non-power metal fans.

If that’s not enough to give the album a chance, then I suggest listening to “Soñar Con Aventura” and “The Fuse That Burned Too Fast,” which are probably two of the best power metal songs ever written. Power metal is a genre defined by melodic choruses that can make or break a song, and Dream Quest has some of the most gorgeous, satisfying vocal lines. Indeed, their sound is stripped of orchestral instrumentation, but their vocal melodies are usually richly harmonized, rendering them even more impactful.

Another great quality of this record is its relentless energy and constant motion; there are no dull moments here, no epic interludes, no waiting for the “cool part” to come. The band hits hard with riffs, sweeping guitar and bass solos, all in the context of a clear song structure (excluding the crazy progressive parts). In terms of energy, I dare to say the songs resemble Helloween’s “Eagle Fly Free” or Sonata Arctica’s “The Wolf and the Raven” but with way more sophistication.

Finally, it’s impossible not to mention the performances on this album. Standing out is the guitar player, who does the whole album without any delay or reverb effects while performing some amazing parts and solos. And, of course, the singer! Oh my god, what a voice, what an amazing range from deep lows to screaming highs! The confidence of his singing is just so infectious, so inspiring.

Dream Quest’s Centralia is a perfect progressive power metal album that in theory should have been a joke among friends. Maybe the fact that they didn’t take themselves so seriously allowed them to be extremely creative (unlike DragonForce) or maybe talent can compensate for the lack of profound artistic intent. Who knows? One thing is for sure, I have been revisiting this album at least once per month since 2008 when I first got my hands on it, and I believe this pattern won’t change soon.