| Musical Style: Melodic Power Metal | Produced By: CJ Grimmark |
| Record Label: MSM | Country Of Origin: USA & Sweden |
| Year Released: 2023 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 10 | Rating: 90% |
| Running Time: 45:39 |
Eternal Reign, the September of 2023 debut full length from Martin Simson’s Destroyer Of Death, is a well-honed melodic power metal album characterized by impeccable lead vocals and consummate guitar work. And righty so when factoring the project features the talents of Rob Rock, with well-deserved reputation as the ‘voice of melodic metal’, and Carl Johan Grimmark, whom many regard as one of the top guitarists in the world. What you see is what you get accordingly, a joining of melodic metal and power metal not that far removed from Rock’s four solo albums and Grimmark’s main band Narnia, although I can see those into bands the two participate such as Impellitteri (former) and Preterist (latter) also embracing Destroyer Of Death.
Outside of that, however, Destroyer Of Death is the project of Southern California based founding member, bassist and main songwriter Martin Simson, who in 2018 began composing material that caught the attention of Grimmark. With Rock later brought into the fold, debut single “Destroyer Of Death” was released in 2021, which was followed the same year by second “Master Of All” to feature guest vocalist Jørn Lande (Masterplan). A successful crowd-funding project launched in 2022 culminated with the 2023 release of Eternal Reign on JONO Music (Sweden), Martin Simson Music (USA), Bickee Music (Asia & Japan) and Sound Pollution Distribution.
Opening cut “Holy Ground” interestingly begins to bagpipes ahead of exploding into a hard-edged bludgeoner, piercing with its iron clad riffing but also gripping in terms of the precise hooks emanating from the brazen scene. Resounding vocal melodies step forward for the distinguished refrain. I see this one fitting in on either of Rock’s solo albums.
Albums title track elevates force further with its fleeting qualities as pristine (and quickly moving) harmonies align with distant but underlining keyboards and forward momentum to the freight train low end. Three minutes in and “Eternal Reign” slows as rhythm guitar crunches to a forward place in the mix, with impetus heightening for the ensuing instrumental run powered by Grimmark’s authentic lead guitar work. Lyric snippet:
Like a hand that’s reaching down
To pull you from the pits of hell
Full of mercy, full of grace
He wants to save us all
Let His sacrifice redeem the souls of sinful men
Eternal reign
The King will live forever
Blood of the Lamb has set you free
Again, “Master Of All” features a guest vocal performance from Jørn Lande, whom brings a gravelly, lower register form (sort of like a combining of Dio and Les Carlsen) compared to classic tenor Rock. It works equally well, as the song gives prominence to a swarthy signature with hulking, mid-paced guitars and accented (but not to fault) keyboards bringing contrasting heavier and lightening impacts. Closing album is a re-mixed and re-mastered version to “Master Of All” that outside of being 15 seconds shorter is difficult to distinguish from the original.
Three songs in and albums pristine production cannot be denied in the form of impactful guitars, cleanly mixed drums, presence filled bass and scintillating keyboards.
“Rapture” separates as one of this reviewers choice tracks. It begins with how the song features as perfectly executed refrain you will find - exalted, catchy and luminous as it gets - and verse section commanded by Simson’s assured bass presence. It also encompasses how “Rapture” features a lead guitar duel of the ages between Grimmark and guest Rex Carroll (Whitecross), with the upshot a ‘dream team’ style scenario worth the price of admission alone! Lyric snippet:
When the Rapture comes
I’ll be on my way
Will you be there?
Like a thief in the night
The Lord will come
You must prepare
The coming of the Lord
No one can know the hour
The Father up above
The One who holds the power
“Never Surrender” also takes a darker form not unlike Rock’s third solo album Holy Hell (2005). All the ingredients are in place in terms of punchy hooks, technical fortitude and lower register harmonies, not to mention every bit shredding guitar solo from Grimmark. Rounding out one of albums heavier tracks are the emotional tinctures to Rock’s soaring vocal abilities.
Albums lengthiest cut at six minutes, “Dragon Defeated” takes an epic metal heading laced with a light progressiveness. Song features a minute and half-instrumental opening home to blistering guitar leads, pounding drums and symphonic keyboards. Momentum decelerates to the mid-paced for initial verse sections as guitars impel in and out of the mix, with force recoiling as escalating drums return and lead the way to the bombastic refrain. Of all the Eternal Reign material, this one best invites comparison to Narnia. Lyric snippet:
Before the beginning of time
His ending was sealed
Beyond the perception of our eyes
Let the future unfold
He is defeated!
Angel cast down
Into the realm of liars
Dragon defeated!
Chained underground
Into the lake of fire
“War Within” brings an accessible element that reminds me of Impellitteri track “For Your Love” (off Screaming Symphony). It accordingly brings a commercial element (by no means a bad thing), mirrored in the refuse to go away guitar harmonies, melodic bass and eighties based hooks to reign supreme. I can see this one dominating FM radio and MTV if released as a single back in the day.
The smooth melodic metal to “Destroyer Of Death” might not hit quite hard as some here, but it proves no less able. Swirling keyboards get things going ahead of placid verse sections woven with light acoustic guitar, momentum gradually elevating until procurement of the marked ‘destroyer of death / He’s the destroyer of death’ refrain. Grimmark literally makes his guitar sing front to back. Lyric snippet:
I finally see the one true way
Christ the King has set me free
Unto a bright and shining day
No more debts to pay
My spirit rejoices through His grace
My body no longer bound
I will see Him face to face
In that most Holy place
“Glory To The King” takes a worship metal heading. With an upbeat procurement leading the way, song shines with its glistening outlook as Rock stretches and unveils the full breadth to his powerful voice and glorious harmonies paid a picture of the sublime. I can see fans of other classic worship cuts such as “King Of Kings” by Barren Cross (off Atomic Arena) embracing this one.
I identify with Eternal Reign as an all-star project in light of featuring Rob Rock and Carl Johan Grimmark. Album represents a dream come true in that I always envisioned any project in which the two make significant contributions to reach great heights and such is the case here. Of course, Simson plays no small role in this regard in light of his precise bass work and spot-on songwriting. Of particular note is how Eternal Reign features nine equally good songs in this regards. That being said, lone constructive comment is that the album could have used a tenth original song, with a ballad, epic in the seven to eight minute range or at the very least a version to “Master Of All” fronted by Rock rounding things out. Moving forward, I hope Destroyer Of Death is not a one shot project, but rather it is first in a long line of albums from Simson, Rock and Grimmark to ensue.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Holy Ground” (4:40), “Eternal Reign” 4:32), “Master Of All” (5:03), “Rapture” (4:08), “Never Surrender” (4:19), “Dragon Defeated” (5:52), “War Within” (4:00), “Destroyer Of Death” (3:49), “Glory To The King” (4:32), “Master Of All” (4:45)
Musicians
Rob Rock - Lead Vocals
Jørn Lande - Lead Vocals
Carl Johan Grimmark - Guitars & Keyboards
Rex Carroll - Guitars
Martin Simson - Bass
Anders Kollerfors - Drums
Andes Johansson - Drums
