Prey Knights of the Revolution
by Derric Miller
Staff Writer
Sweden’s Prey have just released their sophomore effort Knights of the Revolution, a collection of three to four minute radio-friendly tracks that are accessible, heavy yet melodic, and unique, because they really don’t sound like any other band out there today.
Prey straddles the line between AOR, Progressive and Power Metal, in a way that basically one other band is doing so today, and that’s Keldian. Both bands mix elements of technical Progressive/Power Metal with syrupy (in a good way) and soaring vocal melodies that abstain from the high-ranged singing/screaming those genres are sometimes known for. Lead singer/guitarist Thomas Nystroem owns an infinitely warm and rich lower delivery, never sounding like he’s straining, and is one of the reasons why Knights of the Revolution succeeds.
The release opens with the title track, a galloping and majestic composition with otherworldly keys and extraordinary backing vocals. “Knights of the Revolution” is a simple track, yet as anthemic as something Hammerfall would write.
“Deliver the Goods” is up next, and you’ll hear how they drive the track with fierce riffs and offset them with keyboards, played by Fredrik Plahn. Again, “Deliver the Goods” is a racing anthem, but just as much a Rock song as it is a Power Metal track. A stellar chorus makes this one of the tracks you’ll go back to again and again.
They keep up the same fevered pace with the next two songs, and then finally ease off the pedal somewhat on “Get Out.” The song begins with just Nystroem’s vocals accompanied by a keyboard melody, and then the rest of the band kicks in. Maybe you could say Pedestrians of Blue wrote music similar to “Get Out,” but that’s about it. It’s almost like Prey wraps an ’80s pop rock mentality around a Heavy Metal track and forces it all to make musical sense.
“In Memoriam” might be the fastest song on Knights of the Revolution, starting with a Dokken “Tooth and Nail” type manic riff fest. When they get truly heavy, you can hear Hammerfall and maybe Helloween influences. Without the screams or jaunts into falsetto-land, Nystroem keeps it fluid and grounded, never letting the vocals interfere or take away from the expertly played music.
Knights of the Revolution ends with “Personal Fantasy,” and you’ll get a ton of Pretty Maids “Future World” feeling from this one. Nystroem at times sings like Ronnie Atkins in his lower range. While most of the guitar solos are brief, Nystroem tears into a blazing lead here, proving his guitar skills are at least as good as his vocals.
Prey is an interesting band, to say the least. Since listeners won’t be able to automatically pigeonhole them into any genre—and on their MySpace page they say their influences are Judas Priest, Accept, Def Leppard, Ratt and the ‘80s—it may take them a few listens to truly “get it.” Don’t be afraid to hear something outside the norm, because Knights of the Revolution gets better each time you listen to it.
Label: GMR Records
Track listing:
01 – Knights Of The Revolution
02 – Deliver The Goods
03 – Playing With Fire
04 – Bloodred Sky
05 – Get Out
06 – Into Fire
07 – In Memoriam
08 – Addicted
09 – Run
10 – Personal Fantasy
HRH Rating: 7.9/10