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Review: Black Destiny - In Neo Noir
Black Destiny
www.black-destiny.de
In Neo Noir

Label: Independent
Year released: 2004
Duration: 55:00
Tracks: 12
Genre: Power Metal

Rating:
4.75/5


Review online: December 3, 2009
Reviewed by: Larry Griffin
Readers' Rating
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Rated 4.38/5 (87.5%) (8 Votes)
Review

Black Destiny is a rather incredible Power Metal band from Germany – not really a surprise, but it's at least somewhat of a pedigree to go by. This was their third album, and while they are apparently still active, you wouldn't know it from their track record as of late, with nothing else from them at all after In Neo Noir. I had never heard of the band before hearing this album, and imagine my surprise after finding that they really kicked ass.

The basic formula here is dark, seething melody lines, jugular-slashing riffs and powerful, commanding bellows from behind the microphone. One thing that sets this apart from the usual German riff-merchant bands is Black Destiny's heavier reliance on melody a la Helloween or perhaps Edguy. This material is streamlined and catchy as hell, but it's also heavy and punishing at the same time – sort of a ‘best of both worlds' thing. Really, there isn't much else that sounds like Black Destiny on here. They don't sound avant-garde, that is for sure, but they also do not sound like any one band. I would be pretty interested to see their list of influences.

This is classy music right to the core. Every riff is tailored to be as crunchy and melodic as possible. Every chorus is meticulously crafted and is packed with a hugely passionate, emotional base that is so huge that it will make you want to stand up and sing along on the first play. The vocals are just great, big and bellowing and ferocious, but completely intelligible, and as powerful as a freight train, too. Song after song of fiery, metallic triumph make In Neo Noir a real winner, as there are just no bad cuts here at all, not one. It's one of those albums where every individual song that's playing is your favorite one while it's on. "Carnival of Fate," "Carpe Noctem," the catchy "Who I Am," the massive, crushing theatrics of "Somewhere in Darkness"…every song just fucking rules. They either have a killer chorus, some smashing riffs, a blazing lead, a moody slow part…hell, many of these songs have all of these things.

Did I mention the slower parts? They're actually really good, especially in the light of many bands utilizing those same three generic chords over and over every time they want to slow their songs down. Black Destiny's slower parts are just incredible. They're big and grandiose and ominous, fitting with the songs so well in some places that it becomes frightening just how damned good this is. They always sound honest, always endearing and just really human. That's the way to describe it. Human. This is a humane album – everything about it reminds the listener that, hey, this is music; it was made by people who sweat and bleed and worry and make mistakes, just like you. It isn't perfect, but the effort and charisma and zeal to it make it completely amazing.

Well, I don't know; the last time I said something like "if this was their last album, it would be a good one to go out on," it was about After Forever, who did break up shortly after my review was posted, so it might be bad luck, but it's true about this album, too. This would be the album you would want Black Destiny to go out on if they never made one again. The biggest thing that struck me about this was how goddamned passionate it was. This is a band that loves writing and playing music. They do not have to please anyone; they do not play this music to sell it or to draw in huge crowds. The guys in Black Destiny just fucking love Heavy Metal, and who can blame them? This is an album that bleeds love for metal from every pore. Stunning.

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