Queen of Dreams - Subnivium

Angry Metal Guy 70

Here’s a fun fact for you: a subnivium is an ecosystem that thrives in the space between snow and ground. It’s a surprisingly dense topic, and my initial goal of summarizing it here was fully thwarted by just a few minutes of research. Suffice it to say, it’s surprisingly complex, and unexpectedly interesting, which makes it a great metaphor for this album of the same name, the second full-length release from the U.S.’s Queen of Dreams. Subnivium purports to be a work of progressive power metal inspired by European acts in similar genres—but like the system it’s named for, it is full of welcome surprises.

It might be slightly more accurate to describe Subnivium as being a power metal album with progressive and European influences. “Radiant,” the album opener gives this impression the moment you hit play—the album kicks off with energy and aplomb, keys and guitars (Ally and Caleb Scott respectively, with Tom Brown contributing even more guitars) competing for your heart as fast as they can go¹. It reminds a bit of Stratovarius, and a touch of Symphony X, and the modern sound and progressive approach are refreshing. Even when Queen of Dreams slow down, as on “Call to Shadow” and “The Shape of Our Lives,” they keep up the energy, with drummer Dan Love and bassist Sky Talbott-Settle playing superb supporting roles. At any given moment, Subnivium is energetic, heavy, and a lot of fun to listen to.

I do feel bad dedicating so much of this next paragraph to one band member, but Lnz Praznak’s singing is a powerhouse that aligns exceptionally well with the songwriting. The chorus in “When Iron Chariots Prevail” is made by her delivery, with infectiously catchy vocal lines. She has a similar effect in the breakneck “Untethered,” the heaviest song on the album, where she duets with Caleb Scott’s raspy screams to elevate an already great power metal tune. The power in her delivery, alongside the way Scott’s snarls are pushed back in the mix, makes Unleash the Archers the best comparison I can give for what Queen of Dreams is doing here², except that they also have a keyboard and use it to fantastic effect.

There are notes of experimentation throughout Subnivium that help to keep proceedings fresh, though a few moments work better than others. “Shield Anvil” opens with an AOR-style riff and keys duo that sets it apart without needing to stray too much from the core sound. The epic touches that adorn “Beneath the Ice and Snow” make it an effective slow burn and album highlight. The only one I’m not sure works is the closer, “End of the Road.” Written as a duo based on Tolkien’s Túrin and Glaurung, it features rough cleans from Caleb Scott in a “beauty and the beast” style duet over eight minutes (three longer than the next-longest on the 45-minute album). The sudden shift in style alongside the length disrupts the album’s flow somewhat, especially since Scott’s vocals have, to this point, been focused on rasps that have been much quieter in the mix. With that said, the end of the song is a gorgeous way to close out Subnivium, as Scott and Praznak herald beautiful keys and lead guitar at a genuinely touching climax.

Like the seasonal microhabitat itself, Subnivium is an unexpected delight of an album. It is energetic, confident, fun, and very well-written. Queen of Dreams take a familiar sound and apply an exciting and effective formula, the kind of ideas that refresh and revitalize a genre that is so prone to the same old thing. I really can’t wait to see what they do next, and I suspect I’ll be happily listening to Subnivium until that time comes.

Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Self-release
Websites: queenofdreams.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/QueenofDreamsBand
Releases Worldwide: January 31st, 2025

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