I will admit, when I first read the name DYNAZTY, I was a little skeptical. However, far from disappointing, I found this band to be wonderful. Formed in Stockholm in 2008, they're composed of gifted musicians that have performed with acts such as DEE SNYDER and JOE LYNN TURNER. Their talent shines through in their new release, "The Dark Delight" which is comprised of several metal influences, most notable early symphonic acts like BLIND GUARDIAN and NIGHTWISH. If you have a hankering for new symphonic metal and you're a fan of these metal acts, this is a band for you!

The opening track is intriguing, with an echo of the main chorus used to bring us the album. It's an opener that sets the album up as an eclectic mix between power metal, Nu Metal, and Techno metal. Using full orchestration symphonics instead of falling back on synthetic, videogame-sounding effects, each song is wonderfully composed. The vocalist has a great, deep tenor that is clear on every track. One some tracks, such as "Threading The Needle," he reminds me of Roy Kahn from KAMELOT. While the album is generally intense and upbeat, there are some notable standouts. "The Black" has an extreme, upbeat melody and kickass, uplifting harmonies throughout the chorus that keep me rocking. It's an epic ride from start to finish that reminds me of some of my favorite power metal songs. "Hologram" is another standout: a love ballad in waltz time, it features a beautiful, spinning guitar solo and passionate crescendo throughout the song. The next song, "Heartless Madness," sounds like an anime theme without going overboard on synthesizers. A notable showstopper is "Apex", an epic symphonic number with a high-octane guitar solo that will please fans of heavier power metal. They have a unique track, "The Road To Redemption," which has a distinct Western American flavor. Finally, they close the album with a cosmic-sounding song "The Dark Delight." With the organ-sounding symphonics in the back, this "Phantom Of The Opera" style song is a fitting capstone to the album and leaves me feeling very pleased with the experience.

I love how this band captures the spirit of the golden age of European Power Metal. Clearly inspired by bands like BLIND GUARDIAN, SONATA ARCTICA, and KAMELOT, DYNAZTY is a pleasant surprise and a treat for fans of 2000s power metal. As someone who got into power metal during that time, this brought me back in a spectacular way. While many of the songs are steeped in that era, they incorporate modern elements to up the intensity. It's beautifully produced, the musicianship is wonderful, and the mixing is excellent. It is completely worth checking out!