Silver Dust - 2022 - Lullabies

(38:59; Fastball Music)

Track list:
1. The Pact 2:38
2. Emeline 3:49
3. Follow Me 3:54
4. Eternité 3:53
5. Stand by Me 3:38
6. I'll Risk It 4:10
7. There's a Place Where I Can Go 3:49
8. Animal Swing 3:55
9. Burlesque 2:33
10. Echoes of History 4:19
11. Forever (Classical Version) 2:21

Line-up:
Lord Campbell - vocals, guitars, keyboards, programming
Neiros - guitars
Kurghan - bass
Magma - drums


Swiss band Silver Dust are closing in on a full decade as an active band, and they have managed to attract a decent sized following over the years too it would appear. This spring they released their fourth studio album "Lullabies" through German label Fastball Music.

While Silver Dust is a band I have heard of, this production is my first encounter with their music. My initial impression is that it is a good thing that I have a long running relationship with progressive rock. Not because I find this album to qualify in that department as such, but because this is also a band that appears to explore and treasure a variety of forms as well as function. One might say that there is a bit of a progressive spirit present here, if not in actual style.

I would describe the core foundation of this band to be a variety of radio friendly hard rock. Hard rock with a lot of swagger though, far removed from the AOR bands of this world, but with catchy hooks, elegant and striking chorus sections and generally music that is easy and engaging to listen to. However, it is what the band adds to this foundation that is the intriguing and expressive aspect of the total album experience here.

The vocals, for instance, are generally calm and collected. But in the softer songs we will be treated to a more emotional delivery to add the nerve and tension the instruments do not provide us with in such landscapes, and on occasion a darker, more harsh and twisted vocal style will be used too, and too good dramatic effect in those circumstances. The use of primarily layered backing vocal effects also merits a mention in the dramatic department. That the album opens and ends on a more dramatic, classical symphonic tangent also needs to be mentioned, even if those two creations are total exceptions in style when compared to the rest of the album.

Keyboards and synthesizers are used extensively throughout, as expressive or majestic overlays or as more subtle additions to the arrangements. Elements from EDM, EBM and industrial music find their way into the songs due to this, but primarily in a minor manner. That these details are incorporated for more of a dramatic effect than for any other reason strikes me as a proper description, as this is a theatrical album. That we get a minor and a major left turn into jazz territories probably merits a mention in this context, as well as a token nod in the direction of Gothic rock and post-punk at one point. An expressive use of different style elements for dramatic effect is perhaps a manner in which to summarize those aspects of this production.

Dramatic and theatrical are perhaps the main key words for what to expect from this album. With words like creative and expressive probably being proper in this context too. In sum, an accessible hard rock album with dramatic flair and theatrical tendencies with creative and expressive use of additional style elements and music that in general tends to hone in on moods and atmospheres with more of a dark coloration. If that summary sounds appealing, chances are good that you will find this album to be quite the intriguing one to become more familiar with.

Olav M. Björnsen, May 2022

Links:
https://silver-dust.net/
http://www.fastball-music.de/