It’s sort of weird: I always have high expectations when it comes to a new DIARY OF DREAMS record, though, sparks somehow don’t get ignited anymore these days. Reasons might be found within the band’s history. In their early years DIARY OF DREAMS always were a guarantor for coherent, ambitious and challenging dark music. With their turn to more danceable sounds, accompanied by a certain and unavoidable arbitrariness, they added more guitars and Rock elements as an invigorating factor. But in the meantime this effect got worn out on the last records, yet offering a few strong tracks but generally no surprising moments anymore.
Those moments Ego:X very well might offer, but not in musical fields. It’s more the arrangement and the packaging (Ego:X is available in 4 versions). The tracks on Ego:X get framed by narrations. Martin Kessler, German voice-over artist for Vin Diesel and Nicholas Cage, does an excellent job here. Short interludes with somberly wafting sounds accompany semi-sapiences heavy with meaning and other philosophic views. If there is a red thread going through and connecting… I did not grasp yet. I actually get reminded on the latest Helrunar release (to compare to something released most recently). Same structures but way better and impressive realization and a recognizable overall concept.

Musically however I found myself rather bemused. As much DIARY OF DREAMS rock out quite heavy live on stage and even head bang, as oddly restrained they are on CD, downright limited. Often piano parts draw off drive. That might be founded in a possible mainstream approach, but to me it looks like the band is (still) searching for the proper balance between romanticism and Rock’n’Roll. To say it more blatant: it sounds like Richard Clayderman in Gothic fashion (and with singing…). This impression gets even whipped up with Push Me, a duet with Amelia Brightman, who is a copy (her little sister to be exactly) of the frightful original. There is no need for.
Now DIARY OF DREAMS are always professional enough to show that they can do better. Lebenslang and Echo In Me are two exceptionally great songs on Ego:X. Nothing to nag about per se, but on Ego:X same trademarks from the last records get too often repeated and used. In this context plus massively missed variety even a good song loses. Same elements, beats, rhythms, melodies, arrangements and sounds… chewed through, always remembering on songs already released on previous album. Sometime it’s too much unison and monotony. And I once again miss surprising moments…

Ego:X is a record displaying much time and effort spent on but also unintentionally reflects on the current state of the band: too much stagnancy, too little innovation and ultimately too much cramp. Of course, quality is still on a high level and one can’t speak of a bad album really. But I assume that lifted average is not what DIARY OF DREAMS are aiming at. Scarcely 7 points.