Calling Bochum, Germany their home town, the quintet DAWN OF DESTINY perform a brand of power metal that isn't necessarily as happy or melody oriented as the veterans of their domestic scene. Forming in 2005, they've gone through a fair amount of drummers (Julio being their fifth) and yet plow onward into a fifth studio album, entitled "F.E.A.R." which stands for "Forgotten Enslaved Admired Release". It's a concept story about a tragic tale of a girl living her life wheelchair bound due to a car accident caused by her own mother - so throughout the 12 songs you learn the trials and tribulations both come to terms with in order to survive and live.

Jeanette Scherff commands a lion's share of the attention, as her vocals are shimmering in a Gothic meets Power mold, as I can tell she's taken as much influence from NIGHTWISH and WITHIN TEMPTATION as she has from all facets of SAVATAGE. She also gets super support guest vocals from Mats Leven and Jon Oliva - the latter turning in work that rivals his best "Gutter Ballet" days on "No Hope for the Healing". The almost 10 minute epic "One Last Time" features a boatload of theatrical dynamics, moving from softer, emotive verse passages and occasional power riff madness, as the keyboards and guitars from numerous catch and release parts around the multitude of clean melodies, occasional growls, and background choirs.

Where DAWN OF DESTINY differ from a lot of power metal bands that inject Gothic / Symphonic parts is they do not let the latter take over for the sake of orchestration- these musicians know how to play and focus on keeping their style as Metal as possible. Take in the bass / keyboard playfulness for the mid-tempo anthem "Dying in Your Arms" or the heads down stomper "My Memories" that is on the edge of modern Metal yet has an addictive rhythm/ riff hook combination that acts brilliantly against the dual male / female melodies and you'll see the quintet bring all efforts to be unique to the table.

At 60 minutes in length, there is a track or two that drags ("Innocence Killed" a little too 'dramatic' for its light ballad / Dance action) but overall the storyline, songwriting, and attention to detail won me over for the majority - and I can't say that about much of the bands who tackle concept records lately. If you enjoy EPICA without the Death elements or some of the choices that latter day MOB RULES has made, I think "F.E.A.R." could be a pleasant surprise to your aural preferences.