Dream Evil is the brainchild of well-known producer and studio guru Fredrik Nordström (Soilwork, In Flames, Dimmu Borgir), who decided after producing all sorts of metal bands that he could play and write as well as any of them. The speed/power metal band was initially comprised of Peter Stalfors - Bass, Snowy Shaw - drums (ex-King Diamond, Illwill), Gus G. (Mystic Prophecy, Firewind)- guitars. Niklas Isfeldt - vocals (Throne of Chaos) Fredrik Nordstrom - guitars and keyboards.

Dream Evil - Dragon Slayer (Century Media) 2002

1. "Chasing the Dragon" (4:01)
2. "In Flames You Burn" (4:34)
3. "Save Us" (3:39)
4. "Kingdom of the Damned" (3:54)
5. "The Prophecy" (4:14)
6. "The Chosen Ones" (5:02)
7. "Losing You" (5:56)
8. "The 7th Day" (3:33)
9. "Heavy Metal in the Night" (4:54)
10. "H.M.J." (2:46)
11. "Hail to the King" (3:30)
12. "Outro" (:15)

A completely enjoyable power metal feast. Not since Hammerfall's debut have I been so enamored with a power metal album. Sure Dream Evil encorporate a ton of cheesy clichés but they do it with such power and class, save for "Heavy Metal Jesus". This song just cannot be described using the word "class". I think what works in this band's favor is that while they are serious musicians, they don't take themsleves too seriously. However, the music is quite awesome. The guitar work by Gus G. is absolutely fantastic and certainly what gives this band their edge over a horde of other power metal bands. Dream Evil know how to write a catchy heavy metal song. Even ballads such as "Losing You" is quite enjoyable. This is real heavy metal! If only there were more bands of this calibur! "DragonSlayer" is the perfect blend of classic metal and modern power metal.

Dream Evil - Evilized (Century Media) 2003

1. "Break The Chains" (3:32)
2. "By My Side" (3:37)
3. "Fight You 'Till The End" (3:52)
4. "Evilized" (4:43)
5. "Invisible" (2:53)
6. "Bad Dreams" (3:08)
7. "Forevermore" (5:08)
8. "Children of the Night" (4:44)
9. "Live A Lie" (3:26)
10. "Fear The Night" (3:47)
11. "Made of Metal" (3:51)
12. "The End" (4:23)

So I am driving with a friend in his truck and he pops in a CD by a band I had not heard yet. Within seconds my jaw had to be picked up off the floor. Dream Evil are a blend of power metal and speed metal, which is right up my alley. What floored me was their brutal production. Razor sharp guitar tones, tight rhythms, pummelling drums, and just an overall wall of sound. On top of excellent songs writing, their vocalist alone has the uniqueness and strength to his voice that could take these guys to new plateaus. Songs like album opener "Break the Chains" and "Children of the Night" are oustranding. The lyrics are a tad cliché, but so what. Nothing wrong with metal anthems. As a matter of fact, I quite like them.

Dream Evil - Children Of The Night (Century Media) 2003

1. "Children Of The Night" [Edit] (4:19)
2. "Dragonheart" (3:33)
3. "Betrayed" (4:02)
4. "Evilized" [Acoustic] (4:54)
5. "Children Of The Night" [video clip] (3:47)

Excellent mini-CD containing two unreleased tracks, a video clip, and an acoustic version of the album track "Evilized". This CD is worth owningfor the two unreleased tracks alone. "Dragonheart" and "Betrayed" are both good power metal numbers that really sound like they would have fit on the album nicely. They don't sound like b-side leftover tracks to me. The cover, pictured above, didn't reproduce real well as it is printed with metallic inks.

Dream Evil - The Book Of Heavy Metal (Century Media) 2004

1. "The Book Of Heavy Metal (March Of The Metallians)" (5:25)
2. "Into the Moonlight" (4:20)
3. "The Sledge" (2:59)
4. "No Way" (3:19)
5. "Crusaders' Anthem" (4:21)
6. "Let's Make Rock" (4:03)
7. "Tired" (3:49 )
8. "Chosen Twice" (4:22)
9. "M.O.M." (3:33)
10. "The Mirror" (3:46)
11. "Only for the Night" (4:11)
12. "Unbreakable Chain" (5:51)

Despite what might sound like a cheesy title to this album, it is actually quite fitting as Dream Evil have morphed a bit from a power metal band into a 100% bonified heavy metal band. I mean, I suppose you could still label this power metal, but these songs seem to be a bit catchier and slightly more melodic than the first two Dream Evil CDs. Heavy metal anthems like 'Let's Make Rock', 'The Sledge' and the title track are all nods to the classic 80's heavy metal style. The entire CD, however, is solid and each and every song will have you singing along and head banging within one listen. The lyrics are cliché and a bit cheesy, but not necessarily in a bad way. Dream Evil are obviously not taking themselves seriously and are obviously enjoying themselves on this metal opus. Even the ballads on this disc are essiantial. As with past discs, the production is razor sharp, clean enough to allow each instrument to come through the mix, but with just enough raw energy left in to cave in your face. In my opinion, this CD is as stong as some of the staples of the genre, equal to the some releases by Jag Panzer, Anvil, Priest and even the mighty Maiden. Long live real metal!

Dream Evil – United (Century Media)  2006

DISC ONE
1.    Fire! Battle! In Metal!   (3:11)
2.    United    (3:33)
3.    Blind Evil    (4:23)
4.    Evilution    (4:28)
5.    Let Me Out   (4:28)
6.    Higher on Fire    (4:29)
7.    Kingdom at War    (3:11)
8.    Love Is Blind   (4:47)
9.    Falling    (4:01)
10.    Back From the Dead    (4:28)
11.    Doomlord    (4:42)
12.    My Number One (3:09)

DISC TWO
1. Calling Your Name (3:45)
2. Dynamite (4:08)
3. Into The Unknown (4:27)
4. I Will Never (3:55)
5. Vengeance (3:15)

When I read that principle songwriter Gus G. and drummer Snowy Shaw were leaving Dream Evil, I wondered whether or not the band’s next release would be any good at all. It took me a long time to finally pick up "United" after it’s release. Upon spinning it the first couple times, my fears or a less than stellar release were diminished. "United" is an absolutely stunning European power metal release. Each and every song is heavy yet melodic and absolutely catchy. This is exactly what any Dream Evil fan could have hoped for. Pure, anthemic, heavy metal glory. Niklas Isfeldt vocals are outstanding as ever. For the most part, the entire CD is pretty heavy, with the exception of the ballad "Love is Blind", which I find enjoyable nonetheless, and the cover song "My Number One". I am completely unfamiliar with the original song, though it was sung by was sung by  Elena Paparizou and was a winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005. Frankly, I thought this song was one of the weaker songs on the CD and much prefer the original eleven songs.

It should also be mentioned that despite the fact that Gus G and Snowy Shaw are no longer in the band, they did have some involvement in this CD as both performed on the song "My Number One".

Dream Evil - In the Night (Century Media) 2010

1. Immortal (4:38)
2. In the Night (3:15)
3. Bang Your Head (3:52)
4. See the Light (3:40)
5. Electric (3:50)
6. Frostbite (3:31)
7. On the Wind (3:45)
8. The Ballad (4:52)
9. In the Fires of the Sun (4:41)
10. Mean Machine (4:05)
11. Kill, Burn, Be Evil (2:51)
12. The Unchosen One (3:36)

On "In the Night", Dream Evil take every possible heavy metal cliché and weave it into a metallic, chain mesh tapestry. Manowar may have been the self-proclaimed kings of metal in the 80's, but in the 2000's it is clearly Dream Evil. These Swedes have released an album chock-full of skull-crushing riffs, grab-you-by-the-jugular vocals and unashamedly cliché lyrics. Is there any doubt with songs like "Bang Your Head", "Immortal" and "In the Fires of the Sun"?

With the departure of Snowy Shaw and Gus G. many fans were wondering if Dream Evil could create something as stellar as The Book of Heavy Metal. However, they have come back with their second full-length release since then and are still proving to be the heavy metal machine they have always been. This is about as catchy as power metal has ever been with solid, memorable hooks, shout-along choruses and guitar solos that will have any self-respecting heavy metal fan playing air guitar. As well the band is super-tight and the production is stellar. Of course the lyrics are tongue-in-cheek and are suppose to be pure fist-pumping fun. My personal favorite is "The Ballad," which takes every single cliché and turns them into an emotional song about being heavy metal stars, crying children, swine and all.

Dream Evil are heavy metal and "In the Night" is a near perfect heavy metal album. All hail the kings of heavy metal!

Dream Evil - Gold Medal in Metal (Century Media) 2008

"Gold Medal in Metal" is a 2-CD set by Swedish heavy metal masters Dream Evil. The set includes a CD of Dream Evil playing live at the Sticky Fingers in their hometown of Gothenburg on November 25, 2006. Despite the loss of two key players in the band, Gus G and Snowy Shaw, the band sounds as good as ever. In fact, this live recording sounds almost too perfect. One of the great things about live albums is they capture the energy of both the crowd and the band. However, on this album the songs are very polished and the crowd almost seems as if it were added in after the fact. I'm not saying that is the case, but it's how this album feels. That's not to say this isn't a good listen, because it is. In fact, for newbies to the band, this live recording would be a good starting point. It offers a nice overview of the band's catalog and the sound isn't far off from what you would hear on their studio records.

Disc two is full of rare tracks, some previously unreleased and some only available on Japanese albums. There is also three new studio tracks recorded in 2007 included on the second CD. These are the first three tracks on the CD. Tracks 4 - 5 are Japanese bonus tracks from "United" album. "Chapter 6" and "The Enemy" are the Japanese bonus tracks from "The Book Of Heavy Metal" album, while tracks 7, 8, 19 & 11 are all from the recording session from "The Book of Heavy Metal" but were only ever released on various singles and compilations. Tracks 12 - 14 are from the "Evilized" sessions and were previously released on the "Children of the Night" EP. "Take the World" is the Japanese bonus track from the "Children of the Night" EP. The last two tracks are a demo version of "Crusader's Anthem" and a live version of "Touring Is My Life". It is a radio-studio live-session and was previously unreleased.

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