Amberian Dawn - Looking for You (2020)

Unleashing their latest bombastic Symphonic/Power Metal opus, today we have Amberian Dawn with “Looking for You”. Featuring a very retro and yet futuristic vibe, the band delivers over 40 minutes of lush music filled with captivating vocals and superbly catchy arrangements. If you are a fan of bands like Avantasia, Sonata Arctica and similar, you will not be disappointed by this release.

The album opens with the sonically brilliant “United”. Delivering retro synths that give you an 80’s vibe, this track is quite catchy as this majestically pairs with Capri’s signature vocals. With a heavy emphasis on dramatic futuristic (for the 80’s) synths, tracks like “Eternal Fire Burning”, “Looking for You”, and the explosive “Two Blades”, create a very upbeat and playful atmosphere. The dynamic sound of the band nicely keeps the listener engaged thanks to its craftiness.

Featuring Fabio Lione, “Symphony Nr. 1 Part 3 - Awakening” is one hell of a rollercoaster ride with a more sinister side to it. Both vocalists shine in this highly cinematic piece, perfectly adorned by dramatic orchestrations. The Amaranthe-sque “Go For A Ride” and the dramatic “Butterfly”, are two of our favorite tracks thanks to how dynamic and mood shifting they are. Tuomas Seppälä and company have refined their style over the years and by tweaking a few things here and there, they managed to keep their listeners fully engaged and patiently waiting between releases.

For those into covers, “Lay All Your Love on Me” is a brilliant cover from ABBA that certainly fits the vibe of this release while imprinting the band’s signature style into the song. Overall, “Looking for You” is one brilliant release from Amberian Dawn. Perfectly delivering on all expectations from the band, this release will satisfy new and old fans and can certainly get the attention of fans of dynamic, a bit pop-ish, Power Metal fans.

Label: Napalm Records

Release: January 31st, 2020

Genre: Symphonic/Power Metal

Country: Finland