Broken Dagger hails from Sweden and was founded in the year 2000 under the moniker Världens Största Träd (World`s Largest Tree; probably referring to the World Tree Yggdrassil). Since 2002 the band is called Broken Dagger.
After releasing two demos (in 2003 and 2004) their debut album Chain of Command was produced. The band now consists of Niklas Olausson (vocals), Magnus Wohlfart (guitar), William Ekeberg (bass), Urban Månsby (keyboards), and Jeremy Child (drums).

Music wise Chain of Command is somewhere in between Iced Earth and Children of Bodom, with an overall power metal feeling. The awful vocals range between Iced Earth`s and a squeaking gnome. Although one that was just hit by a truck.
In the chorus lines there are often male backing vocals singing along to make things appear more dramatic. This singing sometimes turns into something that sounds more like a drunken male choir from a local pub.
The music is dominated by a horrible nervous synthesizer that is playing fast and happy melodic tunes. All the time! The synth sound ranges from a medieval keyboard to computer games music.

In the information I received together with the promo CD it is noted that a mellotron is used: An electromechanical musical instrument with keys, mainly used in the sixties and seventies. Since I`ve never heard such an instrument before I have difficulty listening to it together with the rest of the music.
The guitar in general plays the standard power metal galloping horse sound (fast rhythmic and happy sounding) with in places a short and not too interesting solo.
The third song, called `Rogaar Beware`, is a cello and piano intermezzo. Although not fitting within the rest of the music, it at least makes it so that the annoying rhythms and nervous keyboards are gone for a minute. Beside this moment of calmness, only the above described power metal rules supreme. And do I hear The Final Countdown in the next song!?.

When I was at the Wacken Open Air festival last year, I noticed a lot of young Germans listening to this kind of power metal. So it might be rather popular. Although I hate it sincerely, perhaps filling this niche gives Broken Dagger a chance...