Now that we all are far from those times when melodic Power Metal was dominating Metal scenes worldwide, we can really see who were the ones that played just for money or because they are really into the style. Some disappeared into the past, other ones are just trying to survive the best they can, and some are still doing that for love to the style.Yes, love, because only this can make a band stay on the road without giving up. But there are times when we find some very good bands, as the Austrian sextet DRAGONY, founded on 2007 (a year when the style already was out from commercial evidence), and that returns with their second album, "Shadowplay".

We can say that the band follows the same style from bands as RHAPSODY OF FIRE and something from ELVENKING, with all that epic insight, virtuous and refined technique, but one point that calls the attention: they run away from something that can reminds us all of those old epic films. Yes, they focus their individual energies in creating excellent songs, with very good refrains, epic choruses, and their songs seem to work perfectly alive.

The sound quality is very good, near perfection. And we can see clearly that Frank/Pitters (the album's producer) and Jan Vacik (who did the album's mix and mastering) did a fine work, because along with a clear sound with an epic atmosphere, they sound pretty heavy.

They take use of cellos (played by Marie-Thérèse Steinmann), and of great orchestral arrangements (a fine work done by Lukas Knoebl in this matter), and has as a very special guest Zak Stevens (from SAVATAGE, CIRCLE II CIRCLE, former TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA) on "The Silent Sun".

The whole album is excellent, but I dare to name "Wolves of the North", the cheerful and tender "The Maiden's Cliff", the grandiose "Babylon", and the giant "The Silent Sun" (full of rich orchestrations and atmospheres). And there's a very good bonus track on "True Survivor", a metal-ized cover for and old David Hasselhoff song.

Great album!