Before 2016 I didn’t have a clue of who DGM were – and the only reason I found out about them was because of a promo download. The fact that DGM had been around for nine years and released four albums had completely passed me by. To my defense, I’m extremely selective when it comes to progressive Metal and Hard Rock because quite frankly, a lot of it leaves me cold. There are progressive Hard Rock and Metal bands I really love but there are way more of them that I really don’t care about so I really don’t go out of my way to find any new stuff in that genre. That being said, I was immediately glad that the promo of The Passage ended up at my house – because the record was great!
DGM is an Italian progressive Hard Rock/Metal band which has no problems including Classic Rock, AOR and Melodic Rock into the fold which in turn makes for a dynamic and varied listen – the songs are more important than musical show-offs and a million time-changes and a catchy refrain is as important as drum-fills and guitar solos. Lead by guitarist Simone Mularoni, a guy who’s involved with song-writing and guitar playing in a lot of different projects as Sweet Oblivion featuring Geoff Tate, Lione/Conti and Sunstorm (feat. Joe Lynn Turner), DGM now follows up the great live-album Passing Stages: Live In Milan And Atlanta (2017) with a new effort of originals and despite not having heard any of their previous albums from 2007 – 2013, I have some very high hopes for this record.
Opening with the album’s leading single “Flesh And Blood”, it stands clear that the last album’s Symphony X influences hasn’t been disposed because there’s a lot of that in this tune. It’s a progressive Metal beast, aggressive and heavy, going right for the throat. Without going too mechanically progressive, the tune also holds a slight Dream Theater touch melody wise. It’s a striking number with a bang-on-target main-melody, a chunky riff and an enormous, hook-laden chorus that stays on forever. A brilliant opener. Latest single “Surrender” is a distinct and direct, straight-forward rocker where Hard Rock and Metal meets and most of the proggy parts has been left at home in favour of melodies and catchiness. And catchy it is, by large. It’s so unpretentious and accessible, it feels like a breath of fresh air. While it do sport its edges, the song throws us a chorus full of AOR-melodies and hooks while never going into mawkish territory. Awesome!
“Fate” starts out in mid-tempo, heavy with a darker touch and a punchy beat. Along the way, the tune alters between mid-tempo and up-tempo. Still quite easy-listened with clear melody-hooks and memorable melodies all over, it also brings up the progressive side a notch from the last track. With Metal as a base, the Melodic Rock ridden chorus is again majorly catchy and the different styles blends splendidly well together. Great. Second single “Hope” starts out as a ballad with some laid-back verses and a somber touch. It adds a prog-laden, stompy groove and gets bigger and more bombastic complete with some fat, heavy detuned guitars riffing away and a thunderous rhythm section. It’s progressive yet melodic and holds another spot-on refrain – great stuff.
The title-track starts out softer and a bit taciturn with a piano melody reminiscent of Dream Theater’s “Another Day”. With some added strings, the song soon takes on a darker and heavier approach and all of a sudden the song is upbeat, ballsy and riff-happy. When the verses gets started the song takes a straight-ahead and more direct route with parts reminding me of the Sweet Oblivion record. The chorus might be a bit of a slow-burner but the strong melodies never gives in and before you know it, it has gotten stuck in your head like damn tattoo. Another killer. “Stranded” brings on some fast drumming on a chunky beat and the verses are kicking and rowdy prog-metal with technical prowess. Still heavy, the chorus is more melody-oriented with a strong hook-line and Melodic Rock catchiness which makes it a memorable monster. Damn good stuff indeed.
A bit more moody but with a driving beat, “Land Of Sorrow” comes with a mid-paced tempo, a somewhat gloomy atmosphere and some energetic and beefy riffing. With vigour and power, this prog-metal stomper also holds some quieter moments for dynamics’ sake and on top more of those hooky vocal-melodies and a resplendent refrain that draws you in after first hello – great! On a more rowdy and aggressive note, “Silence” attacks with a prominent heaviness and a straight-forward fury within the rhythmic beat. The fat rhythms and headbang friendly approach, the live-feel is right in your face. Once more, DGM delivers some striking and effective melodies for the direct chorus and we have another winner on out hands. Brilliant stuff.
“Turn Back Time” starts out electronic with a synth-piano but gets rougher and heavier on a faster tempo with both aggression and Dream Theater inspired prog. Despite being a speedy powerhouse, hard and robust like a raging freight-train, there is no lack of hooky melodies and another pretty memorable refrain. A really good track. As a closer we get “Curtain”, a more quiet and sombre track with only a keyboard-riff over a ticking clock and it works more as an outro than an actual song, like saying goodbye neatly for now.
It’s really easy to state that DGM has brought us another killer record, even slightly better than its predecessor – and just like said predecessor, we get a healthy blending of styles. With Progressive Metal as the foundation, the guys throw in whatever they want here and there, be it Hard Rock, AOR and Melodic Rock, without anything sounding forced at all, it just feels natural – and it never ever gets sugary, cheesy or mawkish. The Symphony X influences that were so prominent on the last album isn’t all that transparent here even though they do show up here and there. You want musical escapades and technical flamboyance? Check. You want emotional finesse and a brilliant vocalist? Check. You want strong songs, lots of hooks and catchy choruses. Check. You don’t have to be a hardcore prog-metal fan to enjoy this and even if you are one, this album won’t disappoint. Do yourself – and the band – a favor and check this out. It’s awesome, see.
8/10
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Tracklist:
1. Flesh And Blood
2. Surrender
3. Fate
4. Hope
5. Tragic Separation
6. Stranded
7. Land Of Sorrow
8. Silence
9. Turn Back Time
10. Curtain
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