Style: Progressive Metal, Power Metal
Recommended for fans of: Lost Horizon, Symphony X, Angra
Country: Norway
Release date: May 20, 2026
Dimhav still orchestrate their songs the way Symphony X did, but the regal oboe tones (“Tides Immemorial”, “Call of the Deep”) and the more discreet use of strings and horns sound less like they came out of a Disney film than the intro of “Odyssey” did. What Dimhav do best is capture that same sense of adventure. Each song travels through a wide range of sections, but thanks to the thoughtful transitions and the clever verses/choruses – even with highly non-linear song structures – all the songs are self-contained, filled with enormous peaks. Overall, Ondine is majestic beyond any imagination. There are endless peaks in this odyssey.
The most obvious peaks are the vocals of Daniel Heiman, notes in a register that no one should be able to hit with as powerful a tone as his – his voice has an indescribable quality that is absolutely perfect for power metal. Ondine has many of Heiman’s signature crazy high screams (including one of the craziest moments of his entire career with a magical twenty-six-second note on “Tides Immemorial”), but it’s easy to forget how consistently fantastic he is because of the enormous peaks he reaches. The chorus-like passages fit into gloriously tight little groove pockets (“Windward Bound,” “The Sunken Star”) created by drummer Olle Lindroth. Heiman occasionally adds rougher moments (“Pilgrimage,” “Call of the Deep”) and the a cappella moment he sings in the final chorus of “A Clarion Soul” is outstanding. It would also be an omission not to mention the creative way he backs himself up with his own vocals (everywhere), with some of his highest notes helping to support his main belting.
The adventure begins with “Tides Immemorial”, where Daniel Heiman softly sings “sail away / dressed in ashes with the wind / forlorn my love will remain” to open the album with the most enchanting call to adventure I can remember – it’s the clear start of something great. The track navigates the open sea, riding waves – as in the soft oboe solo that heightens the intrigue before a jazzy, almost late-era Opeth section – and overcoming storms – as in the extended solo section with unpredictable twists as keyboards and guitars trade leads in their stunning dance. And once they survive the treacherous navigation, the next chapter of the story, “Windward Bound”, uses the most meta-technical songwriting, word painting, 3 with Heiman passionately singing “GLOOOOOORIOOOOUUUUS” as part of one of the best, most epic power metal melodies ever composed. Moreover, the same “GLOOOOOORIOOOUUUUS” scream returns twice on “The Sunken Star”, contributing to Ondine’s cohesion despite the enormous range of tracks Dimhav cover. Throughout Ondine , too, the music always matches the lyrical tone. Other tracks sometimes turn more serious, offering us advice on our journey (“Call of the Deep” lets us know “the void is not your enemy” with a slower, heavy metal atmosphere à la Triumpher ) or detailing the violence along the way (“A Clarion Soul” opens with “out of chaos and anger, cast ashore by the maelstrom”).
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On my first listen, I thought this was a power metal album that crossed the line of how proggy power metal should be. I was wrong. Despite the myriad guitar and keyboard solos from Olle and Staffan Lindroth that would make the average prog band envious for their dexterity, the flutterings of flutes (“Windward Bound,” “Call of the Deep”), the oboe, the horns (“Pilgrimage”) and the strongly varied song structures, I internalized every note in just a few spins. The music is complex, but the Lindroth brothers write outstanding ears. Heiman’s vocal performance, that of an immortal god, is the cherry on top of the brothers’ tendency to combine the technical and the memorable. I haven’t even mentioned that Dimhav write power metal with blast beats, which is a divine match that should be the norm – the lightning-fast drumming contributes greatly to the maximalist peaks and keeps Ondine rhythmically dynamic and full of life. The only cliché criticism I can make of Ondine is “prog metal needs more bass” — some things never change, and we love prog metal for it. The bass is at least audible throughout the album, and the highlight is its rich presence at the start of “Embraced”.
Ondine is the best power/prog album in who knows how long. The album takes the listener on an epic fantastical journey. This musical story becomes a personal one, though, as I’m led on a quest to rediscover the glorious personal truth that prog metal is still my favorite musical style. Beyond that, Ondine helped me break a habit I’ve developed since I started doing reviews: moving relentlessly from release to release. With Ondine , I’ve stopped to smell the roses, listening to it repeatedly to a degree I haven’t with any other album in years. I’ve even started listening to other albums I love more because of Dimhav’s glorious new achievement – Ondine completes the story of my musical homecoming.
Recommended tracks: Tides Immemorial, Windward Bound, Pilgrimage, The Sunken Star
You might also like: Warrior Path, Sacred Outcry, Tanagra, Adagio, Seventh Wonder, Triumpher, Eternity’s End
Related links: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram
Label: independent
Dimhav are:
– Staffan Lindroth (Guitars, Bass, Keyboards)
– Olle Lindroth (Drums, Keyboard orchestrations)
– Daniel Heiman (Vocals)
With guests :
– Malin Klingborg (Oboe, tracks 1-6)
