Atomic Winter KERRANG - KKKK½ US METAL boss Axel Thubeauville is dead proud of his new signing Destiny, and with more than a little justification too. A stylish five-piece from Stockholm (Gothenburg, not Stockholm) in Sweden, Destiny are for all of you who consider that Barton/Russel/Miller faves Gravdigger blew it well an' truly after their explosive debut, "Heavy Metal Breakdown". The Europeans have, of course, always been one step ahead when it comes to delivering quality Speed Metal and Destiny are no exception. There is subtlety here too. Handsome acoustic moments that smack a thoughtful Metal Church and altogether darker, more absorbing moments that serve to make the whole package even more dramatic and decidedly hot to the touch. Class is definitely high on the menu here. Listen to the song structures or bend an ear to the guitar work of former King Diamond man (now sadly departed) Floyd Constantin and it could almost be someone like Mekong Delta at work. 'Bermuda' is a helluva start to any album. No messin' with pretty intros, it's straight in with a solo that fairly smacks you across the face like a pair of Krusher's old sox, before kneeing you savagely in the groin and leaving you for dead. 'Spellbreaker' is similarly unequivocal. Battering a riff into the gut with a strange repetitious grace, this could be Faithful Breath on a simply inspired day. 'Dark Heroes' too owes a debt to Metal Church, utilising the intelligent pacing changes and all the ambience that categorised the best of 'The Dark', before the lead breaks swoops in and whisks us all away. 'Atomic Winter' itself is real frustrating. Lots of background chanting and endless chugging guitars. All over the shop there's harmony in abundance, lots of Derek Oliver-approved widdly-widdly-widdly bits, and a stockpile of sudden endings. Quality like this is certainly at a premium and (especially considering that their debut, 'Beyond All Sense', did very little despite its kind despatches from the big K!) desperately needs a conventional UK release to succeed. Paul Miller - Kerrang