“Fire… Flames… Fury… The Titanic Mass!” This was the melodic hook that shook the stages and resounded in venues around the world between 2016 and 2020, after which “Heartless Madness” took over. This chorus is energetic, dynamic, and full of power, just like DYNAZTY’s fifth studio album, “Titanic Mass,” which was released on April 15th, 2016, via Spinefarm Records. The release is definitely a step up from “Renatus” as the band polished some rough edges while keeping the vibrancy and liveliness of the music. Ten years later, we look back on it to see how it holds up and what its main merit was.
Whereas “Renatus” (2014) is an album built on the mixed feelings of starting over, “Titanic Mass” is all about breaking (and being) free. This strong undercurrent of tasting freedom and the possibilities it carries can be easily heard in both melodies and lyrics as the music flows more smoothly throughout the album, while the verses are empowering and potent. That is because the band was more confident not just in their songcraft but also in what they were creating and building together. That’s the main reason why, while listening to this album, it’s impossible not to feel the desire to run free that underpins both “Untamed of Your Soul” and “Break into the Wild” or the infectious wanderlust coursing through “Free Man’s Anthem” (just to give some examples).
At the same time, there’s so much positivity and feel-good vibes oozing from Nils Molin’s texts, it’s like he was on a mission to spread joviality, incentive, and motivation left and right and thus put everyone in a good mood instantly. The upbeat and rocking “Roar of the Underdog,” the melodic“Keys to Paradise,” or the moody semi-ballad “I Want to Live Forever” are perfect examples in this respect. With lyrics written by bassist Jonathan Olsson, “The Beast Inside” is yet another intense and powerful track with one of the best choruses on the album (definitely one of my favourites). I mean, if lyrics like “You will rise to your best when you’re put to the test, you’re unchainable” (from “Roar of the Underdog”) or “Fly high, rise from the darkness inside you / Braving is what I will do / Fire will be raving” (the chorus of “The Beast Inside”) don’t get you pumped and motivated to take on the world, I don’t know what will.
The central pieces of this album, however, are the opening track and lead single, “The Human Paradox,” and the title track, “Titanic Mass.” With “The Human Paradox,” they made their statement of intent in no uncertain terms, while also welcoming whoever wants to “join in on a grand expedition” with really cool melodies, hefty guitars, thumping bass lines, and a very catchy chorus. It is no wonder this fan favorite is still a staple of their live shows to this day. On the other hand, the highly anthemic “Titanic Mass” is dedicated to anyone who feels (or has ever felt) like an outcast, “society’s last,” with the main idea being that we are all in the same boat, but still determined to weather whatever storms come our way. The melodic hook “Fire… Flames… Fury… The Titanic Mass!” is undeniably one of the best earworms on this album while also injecting some fists-in-the-air sing-along energy to the fold. Closing track, “The Smoking Gun,” is another high point of the album that needs mentioning, beautiful in its vulnerability and delicate in its passionate vocals.
All-in-all, combining this lyrical stance of delivering themes that are both universal and personal with Nils Molin’s soaring and raspy vocals, impressive guitar parts from duo Mikael Lavér and Love Magnusson, thundering bass lines from Jonathan Olsson, cool drum parts courtesy of George Egg could only result in a blast of heavy and addictive high-octane modern power metal that is only boosted by its messages. Moreover, even at this stage in their evolution and growth as musicians, the songwriting on “Titanic Mass” was pretty nuanced (albeit still a bit streamlined) as many of the eleven songs still resonate with the same melodic intensity, technical virtuosity, and lyrical depth as they did when I first heard them, which is the unmistakable mark of a band in total control of the genre they are doing. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that the main merit of “Titanic Mass” is that it gave DYNAZTY their reputation as a band that delivers strong melodies and uplifting messages with their music. They went on to fully capitalize on this hard-earned reputation on their subsequent albums and live activity by slowly but surely building a solid legacy that translates into motivational playlists and high-energy shows.
Written by Andrea Crow
Tracklist
- The Human Paradox
- Untamer of Your Soul
- Roar of The Underdog
- Titanic Mass
- Keys to Paradise
- I Want to Live Forever
- The Beast Inside
- Break into The Wild
- Crack in The Shell
- Free Man’s Anthem
- The Smoking Gun
Lineup
Nils Molin – lead vocals
Love Magnusson – lead guitar
Mikael Lavér – lead guitar
George Egg – drums
Jonathan Olsson – bass
Label
Spinefarm Records
