Artist: Destiny's End
Label: Metal Blade
Release Date: 3/6/01
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Title: Transition Artist: Destiny's End Label: Metal Blade Release Date: 3/6/01 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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Go to Reader Reviews | ||
Abyss's Review:
Destiny’s End bring their own take on Power Metal to the table on this their new album. With the exception of a few live experiences, I’ve never paid much attention to this band, they’ve just never made much of an impression on me, good or bad.
"If these guys were a condiment they’d be ketchup, if they were a cheese they’d be American, and if they were a politician they’d be Al Gore. Nothing wrong here, but nothing right either." This album doesn’t appear to be the one to change my mind either. The songs are competently done, but are two-dimensional, coming across as flat and tepid. There are glimmers of hope, however. Many of the songs have interesting parts to them, a riff here, a vocal line there, but most are so void of any sort of hook that they drift aimlessly and are completely forgettable. The band themselves seem to have hit on a pretty unique sound, which is probably their biggest asset. They don’t seem to be copying anyone else, but while their songs sound different than everyone else’s, they sound the same when compared to each other.
With a few exceptions, Transition is a power metal album that doesn’t seem to succeed in any of the categories that I think successful band must conquer. Impressive, layered, aggressive guitar work, powerful vocals, and intense melodies. Of course they aren’t completely lacking in any of these categories either, they just don’t stand out. If these guys were a condiment they’d be ketchup, if they were a cheese they’d be American, and if they were a politician they’d be Al Gore. Nothing wrong here, but nothing right either.
Death's Review:
What essentially amounds to my first experience with Destiny's End was surprisingly pleasurable. The act rose from the ashes of New Eden, features ex-Helstar vocalist James Rivera and had one prior release as Destiny's End, 1998's Breathe Deep the Dark, but this is my first serious listen to any of it. Of course, avid readers of the site will know that I tend to be kind of hard on certain of the more European-sounding branches of power metal. On the other hand, I love the classic American prog metal sound, a la earlier Queensryche, Dream Theater and Fates Warning. Thus, in the past I've enjoyed records from Jacob's Dream, Shadow Keep, the Quiet Room and new Crimson Glory, while being generally down on Hammerfall, Blind Gaurdian (althoug I must admit I'm coming around - those two bands are so high profile and generally well-regarded that I'm forced to listen long enough to discover that their quality does transcend the limitations of their sound, I therefore am starting to warm up to those two a bit) and the rest of their Euro-power progeny.
"Think Helloween meets early Sanctuary and you get close." That said, I like Destiny's End, who come across as sounding like something in between the two aforementioned power metal styles. Think Helloween meets early Sanctuary and you get close. Now don't be confused, Destiny's End are no Sanctuary, but the higher register material and the sometimes thrashy, technical guitar work sometimes merit the comparison. However, the constant tremolo picked and speed melodics musically almost evoke some of the Swedish death acts, and certainly sound European.
Vocally, Rivera is execellent, as are all of the musicans in Destiny's End, and the production work enables you to appreciate all of the instruments, including the bass, without taking away from the metallic foundation. The songs are somewhat average, for the most part, and could use some more catchiness and hooks, although "The Watcher" ("It doesn't judge, does not punish. We can't accept that it is just is") and "Storm Clouds" do stick in my head after repeated listens.
"While Destiny's End are by no means essential, they sure are fun if you like this sort of thing." What takes this album from a 3 1/2 to 4 skulls is the wonderful packaging and thoughtful and interesting lyrics which add to the Destiny's End experience. In short, while Destiny's End are by no means essential, they sure are fun if you like this sort of thing.
Hel's Review:
In the past I have encountered bands that defy simple categorization. Destiny's End is one such band. Overall, (at least with this record - I cannot vouch for any previous work) they are most easily described as prog/power metal, but I am hardly convinced that this is the most suitable classification. They mix in multiple influences, nearly everything you can name, from black to prog to thrash to…glam? I'm not sure, but "Storm Clouds" sounds suspiciously like an 80's power ballad… At any rate, there is a lot to like here. In addition to sheer diversity, there are elements of various styles tossed in here and there, like my particular favorite - a very King Diamond-esque wail that pops up from time to time.
It is ultimately an infectious record, but this is an infection that needs time to manifest - one or two plays won't necessarily get you there. And for some, there will be the additional hurdle of the frequently high-pitched and always clean vocal lines. I'm certainly not going to sit here and tell you this is a record everyone will like, since that's never true anyway. Transition is an album which contains something for almost everyone, but not all will have the patience to find it. I was lucky, "The Watcher" was right near the top, so to speak, and not only contains the aforementioned King Diamond-ish vocal but also the nearest thing to a growl I found on the record, and the way these two extra vocal styles are utilized in the song is one of the best things on the entire album.
"The musicianship is great, the songwriting is solid, and the production is perfectly clear." So why do I babble on and on? I'm trying to find a way to explain how this is a great album on one level, and a sort of annoying album on another. The musicianship is great, the songwriting is solid, and the production is perfectly clear. Yet I have spent a great deal of time trying to pinpoint the source of this strange feeling I have that it is too slick and polished for my taste. I continue to listen to it over and over, trying to resolve this conflict, but to no avail. The part of my brain that likes it, is shouting: 4 skulls! 4 skulls! The part of my brain that is unsettled, is saying: what are you, nuts? The answer to the last question is yes, and since the cognitive dissonance is deafening, I'm copping out and compromising with myself. I strongly recommend forming your own opinion on this one.
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