Welcome to Disney World Dragonland! Its five kingdoms four realms provide hours of fun and entertainment for the whole family. Take a trip through a futuristic Tron-like realm in a fancy sports car! Sail the high seas through stormy waters that threaten to capsize your ship with 100-foot waves! Hike the scenic mountain trails at the mercy of the vicious, fire-breathing dragons! Explore an obliterated city from a post-apocalyptic world while dodging falling meteorites! Wait, this sounds way more terrifying than what was advertised when I originally booked my family trip. Isn’t this supposed to be symphonic power metal? I thought that was supposed to be harmless fun. Dragonland has been at the sympho-cheese act for quite some time, 27 years to be exact, but their output has slowed considerably compared to their more youthful times. When a less olde Steel Druhm reviewed Under the Grey Banner in 2011, it was their fifth release in ten years. Now they make a triumphant return to the blog 15 years later for album number seven, Prophecies. Is it worth the price of admission?
Perhaps one advantage of less frequent releases is that it allows Dragonland to keep the spunk and energy of their youth. They take the good cheer of Fellowship and combine it with the fantasy-seasoned cheese of Rhapsody of Fire and Gloryhammer to make for some rather inspired tunes. Prophecies opens with gusto on the galloping, joyful “The Prophecy Unfolds,” complete with synth wizardry and some guitar fireworks. Beneath that cheer, however, the record can take a rather bleak view of humanity. On “Survival of Mankind,” for example, Jonas Heidgert sings with ironic joy, “Wastelands as far as your eyes can behold / Those before us brought destruction and despair.” It shouldn’t require a spoiler alert to say that a message of hope lurks behind the often dark lyrics, thanks to the uplifting music as well as a redemptive arc in the closing minutes of the finale, “Cries of Anguish.”
While the bulk of Prophecies contains rollicking, galloping tunes, Dragonland have plenty of other tricks up their sleeves to keep the record interesting. The synths provide a distinct ’80s character to some tracks. “Rolling Waves” opens with the synth rock touches of Duran Duran, and then there are hints of ’80s synth pop on “Dragonland.” This latter song takes its energetic start and rips into a banger complete with a fun gang vocal chorus. Anders Hammer’s bass also makes a strong mark throughout Prophecies, with a Stratovarius-inspired bit on “Making Darkened Nights So Bright” as well as a funky bridge solo on “Call of the Wild.” The slower, piano-led ballad, “Light of the Sunset,” gives Heidgert the opportunity to show his range, crooning gently in the early goings and then belting his heart out in an emotional climax. Dragonland shake up their rigid formula on the more progressive “Glory and Gold.” This seafaring piece feels like a missed opportunity to partner up with the nautical Terra Atlantica, and at the very least could serve as the start of a raucous adventure film.
Dragonland puts its power metal formula mostly to good use, writing tight, catchy songs that nonetheless begin to sag as the album drags on. Part of the issue is the generically uniform riffs that serve as the music’s backbone. Jesse Lindskog offers up some guitar solos here and there, often mixed with Elias Holmlid’s wild keyboard fretting, but the fact remains that the guitars feel almost like an afterthought for the most part. Prophecies also ends up feeling bottom-heavy, as tracks begin to creep into five-minute territory on the back half. They’re still fun songs, but their length does cause Prophecies to sag as it reaches its conclusion. Fortunately, “The Call of the Wild,” featuring the record’s best lead riff as well as an excellent chorus, swoops in to spice things up down the final stretch.
If you’re a fan of the cheese, don’t miss out on this roller coaster ride of an album. Dragonland offers the thrills and joys of an amusement park ride from the safety of your headphones. They have managed to sound just as fresh and exciting as the newbies in the field. They may not shred like Dragonforce, but they’ve retained and sharpened a decades-old identity thanks to sharp songwriting and plenty of spunk. Buckle up and prepare yourself for one glorious ride.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 256 kbps mp3
Label: Scarlet Records
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook
Releases Worldwide: October 23rd, 2026
