Review by Tomek on November 13, 2013.

Malicious Dream is from the Netherlands, and the album that I’m gonna be blabbing about is called “Soil”. It came out in 2012 so I’m not discovering something new here, but for the last couple of weeks it accompanied me pretty much everywhere and I don’t think I’m gonna leave it alone anytime soon.

I am lucky enough to get album in a digipack edition and I have to say that when I first opened it, it grasped my attention immediately. There is something about the cover art that gets my imagination going and I want to congratulate Chris van der Linden on a job well done. Chris also did the graphic design on the album and it is based on ceramic art by Annie Heesterbeek. The whole thing is done superbly in all aspects, but I have to say that it’s not just the cover that impressed me about those guys, the music is something that completes the package and it is absolutely gripping.

The simplest thing to say would be that Malicious Dream play inspired Melodic Death Metal with some Progressive elements - but that would be such a great understatement. There are many levels to what we have here and all those levels are filled with layers of excellent ideas and surprising shifts and turns. I could try to explain or describe all that is happening on the album but it is 21st century so I’m just gonna say that some clicks of the keyboard need to be made and songs needs to be listened because Malicious Dream is not a band that you want to miss. If you are reading this it means you can!! Links available up top.

I’ve listened to the album three more times while typing this and I managed to discover few more melodies, few more elements that I have missed and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to those guys yet again. I may sound cheesy but I am being honest with you guys, I cannot get enough of this album and if after reading this you will not check Malicious Dream on the net - you may as well punch yourself in the face, you deserve it.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9
Originality: 8
Overall: 8.5

Rating: 8.7 out of 10