UMUR
"Dreaming Reality" is the 3rd full-length studio album by US progressive/thrash metal act Antithesis. The album was independently released in June 2010. It´s been quite a few years since "Dying for Life (2001)" was released but the recording of "Dreaming Reality" actually already began in 2004. It wasn´t until late 2009 that the recording process was finished though. In the meantime two of the members who recorded "Dying for Life (2001)" had also been replaced. Matt Adkins had taken over the vocal duties from Ty Cook and Brian Glodde had replaced James Lewis on bass.
The music style is still the same as on the last album though. We´re treated to progressive US power/thrash metal played by greatly skilled musicians. The technical level of playing is very, very high. New lead vocalist Matt Adkins has a strong voice and a convincing delivery. He sings slightly more than his predecessor, who was slightly more raw sounding, but Matt Adkins can also sing harsher type vocals when that is called for. The instrumental part of the music is busy and technically quite challenging, which is pleasure to listen to if you´re a fan of acts like Charred Walls of the Damned and Control Denied. Just add a more progressive edge to the style of music that those two acts play and you´re half way there. Technical thrashy riffing, tempo- and time signature changes and just a generally powerful delivery.
"Dreaming Reality" is not only well composed and well played, it´s also well produced and overall it´s a high quality release. If I have to point out a minor issue it would be that the melody lines aren´t always that memorable and that the vocals themselves can be a bit hard to listen to over the course of a full album. And don´t get me wrong here because as I mentioned above Matt Adkins is a very skilled vocalist with a strong voice, but it´s like he delivers at full volume all the way through the album and I miss a bit more dynamic in the vocal delivery. With this minor complaint out of the way "Dreaming Reality" is still a great release by Antithesis and a 4 star (80%) rating is fully deserved.