Imagine Dragons Bares Its Battle Armor

Climax counts for a great deal when it comes to defining the direction a rock record takes. Score one for those Las Vegas masters of the conceptual arts, Imagine Dragons whose "Warrior" single amounts to some pretty affecting arena worthy smoke. You're dealing with what would happen if you took the unchained grandeur of a symphonic orchestra and escorted it to the rock bombast side of the tracks. Daniel Wayne Sermon's guitar solo at the bridge is worth the price of admission. At its most profound you're led to believe Imagine Dragons is climbing a steep yet not insurmountable hill. Daniel Platzman's drumming heightens the melodrama to where you stop trying to keep your man pill swallowed. You learn less and less of reasons to assume liking this record is going to alienate you from the peer group that lends color to even the dreariest avenues of the life highway you walk. Dan Reynolds clutches the mike as if that's the one and only lifeline he's going to either want or need. He doesn't do a lot of showboating where his pitch range is concerned. The dedication to his subject matter goes without saying. His bravado matches the luster of Ben McKee's intrigue laden keyboards. Those notes rise up from the podium like some unidentifiable spirit possessed them. Dan follows a personal growth progression in the lyrics. We start of course in childhood where Ben spins the yarn of an as yet unproven warrior confined to the sidelines, ever eager to be a force in the game rather than be forced to play the unsung hero role for the duration. Anybody kind of seethe with resentment watching your office cohorts play like it's adult primary school while you overwork yourself to an early dirt nap? Imagine Dragons is in your corner. The lying awake at night scheming picture is a universally gripping piece of the puzzle. I know when I have my poem writing hat on (Did someone think...this Ear Buzz guy's a double threat? Not mandatory. Let's continue) these days I leave my writing notebook on the floor next to bed and pursue revitalizing slumber in hope that heretofore novel inspiration has leaped from my recently undisturbed mind to craft a clever round of wordplay. Evolution is part of the stay here on Hotel Planet Earth. The Dragons encourage us to keep front in center in mind that eventually proving ourselves is going to factor into the situation. We are reminded not to turn away from the empire, the deeply respectable plans we've got cooking on the front burner. A side note...for a song a mere 3 minutes and 2 seconds in duration, Imagine Dragons sure knows how to make the flavor last. The warrior call to arms stretches out bubble gum style. It's been my experience that saga singles usually require 4 and a half minutes and up to hit the crescendos "Warriors" has already scaled before getting to the 2 minute mark. They make their machinations count and then some. Imagine Dragons immerses you in their baptism by fire. You'll not even flinch as the heat melts away any reservations you have about throwing your hat in this ring. "Warriors" comes to fight. It packs a wallop meant to make a solid impression. Place this battle in the win column. It successfully engages, enlightens, and entertains.