| The Undiscovered Country Lamenations - $$$3/4 ($$$$$) DESTINY is apparently an old Swedish power metal band, and the members do look just this side of ancient. What sort of "comeback" album this might be, I don’t know, but the material was recorded way back in 1995 when any record label would have been laughed of the face of this planet to release this. Well, maybe not metal Blade, but nobody would have bought it. This is also the first release of Gothenburg Noiseworks, specifically to cash in on the Power Metal trend, and is a division of Black Sun records, which is around specifically to cash in on the Gothenburg trend. One trademark of Black Sun that is continued here is that of top quality. DESTINY has put together some very good songs I must say, and considering this entire movement is considered to be just 80s revivalism anyway, the three year lag time between recording and release hasn’t hampered this a bit. It sounds at once powerful, but tempered by the fact that these guys have obviously been in music forever, and some of the tempos, riffs and general chicanery just sound so of the wall and different they seem wrong. But they’re not, because they’re blended masterfully into the whole of the songs. More craft than exuberance here, overall. Lots of those diddlydoo diddlydoo solos I like. One problem with Scandinavian clean singers is they sound Scandinavian. Yeah, so I am prejudiced against hearing accents in my music, but if the British can make their accents disappear when they sing, well dammit, so can the Swedes, and the Finns, and the Lower Slovakian, etc, etc. Which is all of topic because my point to this, the guy’s doesn’t have an accent. He actually sounds like Wino from Obsessed, but able to sing. Anyway, the lyrics remind me of a Southern rock band for some reason, as lines like, "You ask me if I enjoy it/Like you pros always do/I tell here I always like a ride/No matter where or with whom", just SOUND like they should be delivered someone wearing a cowboy hat. Trashy old regretful men is the image I get of these guys reading these lyrics. Definitely a real twist and a completely different approach to this style of music for sure. But not sure if I entirely appreciate it. A complete package for sure, with a neat cover, nice packed booklet, and a punchy, in your face sound. My guess is that was self recorded back in 95 and they finally sold it of, so for a self financed recording, this is better than excellent. But guys, it is MUCH easier to play chess if you turn on the lights. Not a stunning and spectacular release, but if you’re into power
metal, definitely something to put on your shopping list. I think you’ll
dig it. |
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