A new day, a new album review. This time, it’s Game of Faces from Dynazty, coming out on February 14th. Not gonna lie, I didn’t read that as faces at first and was momentarily horrified. I’m also not sure if this is a Game of Thrones Arya “changing faces” reference, but I guess we’ll find out.
I probably first discovered Dynazty the way most people did: through Amaranthe. Their vocalist, Nils Molin, has been fronting Dynazty for a while, though stylistically, the two bands live in separate spaces. Dynazty leans more toward power metal with a strong melodic and modern hard rock twist. That said, I don’t love everything Dynazty has put out. Power metal, in general, isn’t my go-to genre, but when they hit the right balance between melody and energy—like in Waterfall or Presence of Mind—I’m fully on board. So, let’s see what this new album brings.
(Side note: Dynazty should probably update their Wikipedia page to mention this album. It lists the singles, but the album itself? Nowhere to be found. Priorities, people!)
First Impressions
Opening track Call of The Night kicks things off exactly as expected: energetic, poppy, fun. If you’ve ever heard a Dynazty song, you know what you’re in for. It’s the kind of track that immediately sets the mood and reassures fans that, yes, this is still the band they know and love.
Next up, Game of Faces starts with a more electronic, synth-driven approach, feeling almost Amaranthe-like before the heavier elements kick in. The production is layered—maybe too layered. There’s a lot happening here, from pulsating drums to intricate synths and sharp guitars. It’s engaging but borders on chaotic at times. A lyric that caught my ear: “Don’t ever fall in love with love again.” I think many people can relate.
Fair warning—I’m not great at picking up lyrics on the first listen. After a few moments, my brain just files them away into background noise. This is why I appreciate when bands include a lyric booklet, as it makes my life easier.
Standout Tracks
Devilry of Ecstasy immediately wins for best song title. The vocal delivery here leans into a more high-pitched, almost screamed style -classic power metal -, which isn’t my favorite. The guitars do that signature Dynazty back-and-forth movement, creating a familiar, tight groove. And then there’s that line: “Come shed your skin and get into me.” Wink wink.
Fortune Favors the Brave answers the question, “How much ’80s synth is too much?” with a resounding, “Yes.” This is pure retro fun, leaning hard into neon-lit, larger-than-life energy. It has that kind of a different sound I enjoy when listening to new music because it means the band is being … brave, so fortune favors them.
Sole Survivor brings the power in power metal. This is the kind of track that pumps you up for battle—or at least for a tough workout. The interplay between the guitars and synths is seamless, everything coming together in a way that feels both classic and modern. I can already imagine how much fun this will be live, with its soaring chorus and headbanging riffs.
Phoenix opens with rapid-fire instrumentals and the most interesting vocal lines on the album. Lyrically, though, it stumbles a bit with “Like a phoenix of the sky.” As opposed to… a phoenix of the sea? The ground? Still, the energy here is undeniable.
Dream of Spring starts strong and immediately feels like an anthem. It’s the album’s big ballad moment, but it still packs enough instrumental punch to avoid being a full-on slow song. This is one of those tracks where you pull out your lighter (or, more realistically, your phone flashlight) at a concert. I have a soft spot for ballads with that arena-sized, sing-along quality, so they got me here.
Mystery starts off so strong!!! Well deserving the three exclamation points. It kicks in with so much force that I immediately knew this was going to be a highlight. There’s a Sabaton-like march to the rhythm, particularly in the vocal cadence, and that’s a compliment. This is now officially my favorite track.
Final Thoughts
All in all, Game of Faces is exactly what a Dynazty album should be. It delivers on fan expectations, staying true to their now well-established sound while throwing in just enough new elements to keep things fresh. Personally, I’m not die-hard enough to be fully swept away by the whole album, but there are definite standout tracks I’ll keep in my rotation (Mystery, Fortune Favors the Brave, and Sole Survivor for sure).
At the end of the day, it’s a fun album—and we can never have enough fun in our lives. If something brings you joy hold onto it.