Dimitri – The Long War

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It’s clear Italian-born Dimitri Bonani, guitarist and band namesake, has listened to a lot of Yngwie J. Malmsteen and thought “I want me some of that”, while simultaneously forgetting that 1980s synths and keyboards a la Europe are now a rock ‘n’ roll laughing stock. Indeed a bastardisation of the immortal keyboard lines of The Final Countdown occupy large parts of the title track, and sound incredibly dated. On the other hand, the Rhapsody of Fire grandiosity he introduces with the echoing effects on his vocals and some classical elements go some way to counter-acting the weaker elements of their sound. Making music in the style that has been branded “’80s” is no bad thing. The style has been unfairly disadvantaged by a label that suggests it is out-of-date while other styles created in previous decades were given labels which are timeless. However, certain elements of music created at that time were considered kitsch even then, and are considered jokes now. Quirky keyboard lines were largely abandoned because they were a bad idea, and they still are. Most of what Dimitri has created here is not new music in an old style, it’s just a copy of some old music. The production values are high enough, but the material isn’t strong enough.

Written by Andy Lye
More: 2010, Albums, Power Metal, Quick.Play Reviews, Dimitri