In the dark cover of night comes a presence with an eerie feeling called Dark Illusion. You would think by their name that these guys are Goth - but actually they play hard-driving metal. They will remind you of many different bands sounding like Hammerfall, Judas Priest, and Stryper.  They force the metal down your throat. Dark Illusion has been around for a few years now, and has now released one of the best metal CD’s in 2005. The musicianship on “Beyond the Shadows” is extreme, and this should set the band on the fast track.

The opening track “Night Knight” is getting tons of airplay in Europe, Canada and USA – it’s about to make an assault on Japan next. “Warrior” is truly a masterpiece of melodic metal with the vocals of Thomas Vikström doing an amazing killer job. You really have to check out the vocals by Hultqvist that will knock you socks off – he sounds like Michael Sweet of Stryper at times. There is not a bad track on this entire disc and the guitar work by Tomas Hultqvist is on fire.

Dark Illusion will remind you of the great metal bands of the eighties like Accept and Priest with their song, “Secret Journey” a track that will pump your adrenaline. “Tragedy” sets the mood and gives way to acoustical guitar genius Niklas Tengblad as he hooks up with the keyboards. You get fourteen tracks of some the best metal you will ever hear and you will not be disappointed.