When a band write to you directly asking you to review their album, and “Give us 1/10 we don’t care! We need the exposure!” I see it as a challenge. Could I genuinely publish a review for an album that was so bad I gave it 1/10? Well… no. Mainly as we don’t give marks out of ten.
If you’ve not heard of Electric Dragon then where have you been? I suspect not in Bulgaria or Poland, where the band have had a couple of chart-topping singles. Dark Dragon Rises marks their fourth full-length release and it’s chock full of eclectic sounds. Based heavily on thumping beats and rocking guitar, they throw in a bit of hip-hop and a ton of chiptune (they brand themselves “Nintendocore” which will last until the Powers That Be in Kyoto send lawyers, or Mario, to tell them to stop).
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The band put a ton of effort into checking mixes and versions of tracks from various engineers until they found the ones that worked best for them. With so many sounds, layers, and influences this must have been a mammoth task… but it’s paid off. Each track is very individual, with some throwing the funkier sound up front (“Red Pilled”), some being more rocky (“Dark Dragon”) and others ramping up the electronic tones (“I’m Done”). However, at no point does the sound vanish too far down a single rabbit hole to the point of being inaccessible.
I’ve said this so many times, but it bears repeating: it’s astounding that bands working independently can produce something as well put-together as a major label release. When you’re being as creative as this, it’s even more impressive.
It’s a very enjoyable collection and I’m grateful that Electric Dragon sent it through. A perfect 5/7.
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Dark Dragon Rises is out on February 22nd
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Electric Dragon: official | facebook | twitter | spotify | bandcamp | youtube
