Ten years on and DREAM EVIL still have enough vigor to come charging from their iron fortress in hopes of attaining that most elusive grail: Complete and utter Metal domination. 2004's massive "The Book Of Heavy Metal" was a step in the right direction, "United" came off as mentally-addled, while this year's "In The Night" arrives to finally claim the crown, with hilarious results. Just read the tracklist: "Bang Your Head" - "The Ballad" - "Kill, Burn, Be Evil" - What the hell were these guys smoking inside Fredrik "Richie Rainbow" Nordstrom's studio?

Oh yeah, the 'new' names. Nick Night, Pat Power, Danee Demon, Pete Pain. Ever the consummate entertainers, the quintet have settled for monikers suitable for either PG-rated Teletubbies or porn stars. And check out the lyrics: "I know what I want/I know my needs/rolling heads light my fire!" (from "Bang Your Head"). Like, UGH! Dumbness aside, one cannot deny the sheer might of opener "Immortal" and its hard charging tempo that would put anything MANOWAR has done to shame. The title track itself is pretty brutal and comes with a breathtaking guitar solo that speaks volumes of DREAM EVIL's undeniable chops. "Bang Your Head" is self explanatory—one is compelled to hurt his/her neck while this song hammers away. To the listener's disappointment, what follows ("Electric", "On The Wind") stews in the juices of mediocrity and the tongue-in-cheek "The Ballad" hardly improves matters.

"In The Fires Of The Sun" marks DREAM EVIL's return to glory with a massive tune that's actually quite, er, serious? Impossible! ("Impossible" would make a nice song title itself.) U.D.O. and ACCEPT get their due on the galloping anthem "Mean Machine"; you almost expect Mr. Dirkschneider's whine to erupt at any moment here. By far the best the album has to offer, "Kill, Burn, Be Evil" is all undisputed attitude and chest-thumping Metal devilry. If there's ever a 'Best Of' release for DREAM EVIL, this song has to be included. The pretentious "The Unchosen Ones", which caps a saga stretching back to the band's "Dragonslayer" debut, marks the closing of the curtains for this bubble gum effort.

Performance-wise, DREAM EVIL are bullet proof. The lineup is a cut above the rest by any criteria (okay, maybe not for lyrics), no matter how cartoonish they sound. Having weighed its pros and cons, perhaps it's best to declare "In The Night" cheese Metal at its finest.