Steamhammer - 2023
8/10
It's always fun to find what appears to be a good old throwback band in heavy metal's most population-dense country. Satan's Fall come from Finland, having held that name for about a decade and some lore prior to that as well. But it would be the album that flew under my radar a few years back that snagged my interest. Destination Destruction swept my attention from album art alone, if not for the band's name.
As quick as it may be to call them a throwback band, despite all of what would seem like obvious nods, Satan's Fall actually does little in the realm of capturing a classic feel. It would be more apt to describe them as falling into the more power metal oriented sphere, if anything throwing back perhaps to the '90s European sound while avoiding too many bells and whistles. Yet, the cleanliness in their delivery is pristine, matching the revival era of Judas Priest in tone and song structure. The outcome of their sophomore thus winds up being something that's caught between a throwback and a modern spin.
How this lands depends entirely on your mood. Frankly, I think the better numbers are the ones that dodge falsettos in exchange for catchier melodies and warmer flanks to do the lifting, like in "Garden Of Fire." Similarly, the near epic "Monster's Ball" slows things down and cools the jets to a point that's almost soothing while still fitting in. I also can't pretend that some songs don't strike this balance right in the middle, as "Swines For Slaughter" kicks out aggressive falsettos in an almost welcoming way. Its beefy leads certainly elevate it, and I could say the same effects are achieved in closer "Dark Star" opting for a oceanic flow from its guitars.
Ultimately, Destination Destruction is a sturdy and strong release that definitely requires a specific taste for melody and cleanliness that can be too much to some, but is helped by strong writing and compelling delivery. It would be fair to say that it's far friendlier than it looks, but that's not turned me away before. Fans of Blind Guardian, Savatage, Helloween, or later Judas Priest should find something worthwhile. After all, what else could you expect from a band that throws a Power Rangers cover on as a bonus track?
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