The Noob Exchange: Factory of Dreams- Melotronical

For as long as ive been alive and known rock/metal music i still find it amazing when i can discover a band or even just a song or album that catches my breath and excites me to the core. And ironically when it comes to this cat it doesnt have to be the loudest or heaviest of albums as long as i feel it has substance, feeling, and least above all emotion. Last year Westering took me by surprise despite some of the naysayers and the same will happen this year as well as Factory of Dreams has encaptured my soul with their new opus Melotronical.

Factory of Dreams hails from Portugal and consists of music mastermind Hugo Flores and Swedish singer Jessica Lehto whose vocals are both mesmerizing and beautiful. Both members are also involved in other musical projects beyond FOD but for me it would be hard to believe how it could get much better than this. The music is a strong blend of gothic symphonic rock with a strong dash of progressive elements. The way that Lehto sings on this album at times comes off almost Enya-esque in terms of vocal delivery that mesh really well with the mood and atmosphere of the musical genius of Flores and his exceptional compositions.

Although i am a avid fan of bands like classic Lacuna Coil or Leave's Eye's a band like Factory of Dreams brings more to the table for me and at this time seems to have gotten lost in the thick of a very saturated scene of bands with a similiar vein and theme. With the opener "Enter Nucleon" it sets off the album very energetically with a combination of vocal from both Lehto and Flores. Next up is my favorite off the album in the title track with has a very moody intro with a nicely placed piano piece. Lehto's vocals are just haunting in every way which begin to crash into the crunchy guitar riffs that erupt in the middle of the song. This track is a perfect example and feel of bands like Ayreon or even my favorite mastermind Devin Townsend.

One thing that i can ultimately appreciate about composers such Hugo Flores and the above mentioned names is that they try and make every song a stand alone piece. Meaning, its not overdone and yet there is no filler. Each track off of Melotronical is exceptional with perfect craftsmanship that envelopes the listener to hunger for more. The one thing that i feel strongly separates FOD from the other bands in the same genre is the fact that they are not afraid to dive into the more pop oriented culture rather than try to hard to force the metal sound into their music. There's just the right amount of edge and crunch while still holding the beauty and tantalizing atmosphere that they make with the melodies and vocal deliveries. The true beauty of the album is that its the atmosphere and intensity that excells within the harmonies and operatic vocal work. Despite the obvious gothic oriented overtones there is still quite a bit of diversity throughout each track that never loses focus of the endgame.

Whether its the synth-percussion, the fluent guitar riffs, or the overwhelming dynamic energy of Lehto's vocals it does not matter. The chemistry between the two is fantastic and the worlds that they combine flow flawlessly together. Some of the great tracks on the record are "Melotronical", "Echoes from Earth", "Obsessical", and "Back to Sleep" which really reminds me a lot of the Enya feel that i mentioned earlier. Overall, the album is just fantastic and beautifully written and keeps the listener engaged throughout the record. Although i have not heard their previous efforts i will be making that a must and look very forward to future works from this band. If you like bands in this vein that can combine elements of synth, goth, and progression with excellent vocal work from both parties than this definitely for you. If you want to see how a band does it perfectly and the right way than this is a must for your catalog. The orchestration and dramatic combinations of sounds and atmosphere are dramatically driven home with a hell of an album here which is already my favorite of 2011.