Search - Sword :: Sweet Dreams

Forgotten Canadian metal album

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 03/20/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Originally released in 1988, Sweet Dreams was the second album from Canadian metallers Sword. Sword - not to be confused with the current American band The Sword - played what at the time would have been called power metal. They had a sound that was like a combination of Armored Saint, Under the Blade-era Twisted Sister and maybe early Fates Warning.



Not too extreme and not at all glam, Sword was one of those bands (like Vicious Rumors, Savatage, Fifth Angel and Lizzy Borden) that totally embraced British metal and gave it a North American character. Sweet Dreams is a great example of that particular heavy metal sound. It's heavy, melodic and powerful, and the guitar work is downright thrashy at times. The vocalist sounds a bit like Dee Snider, though he hits more high notes than Dee ever did. This is pretty much what 80's heavy metal was supposed to sound like.



If you're a fan of the 80's power metal sound, Sword is one of those lost classic bands you'll kick yourself for missing the first time around. Check out their debut (1986's Metalize) and Sweet Dreams. You won't regret it."