VISION DIVINE – Destination Set To Nowhere (Ear Music / Edel)

Formed in Italy in 1998, this progressive power metal band release their seventh studio album with plenty of power and melody, Rhapsody’s Fabio Lione providing vocals with power, range and an operatic touch. From the outset the intricate guitar work and keyboards work well. There is the melody and operatic power of Rhapsody mixed with the prog metal popular from many northern European metal bands and it works well.

The guitar work mixes solid metal riffs with some blistering guitar solos and searing vocals, The Ark standing out. The vocal / piano intro to ‘Mermaids From Their Moons’ soon builds to a full on blistering number, while ‘The Lighthouse is’ full on machine gun drums with guitars to match. It’s a six piece band, the twin guitars providing riffs and solos aplenty as well as interplay with the keyboards.

The band have a concept going and the sound is a perfect balance of power metal, melody, concept, fantasy and progressive metal. This is the first album I’ve heard by Vision Divine and even the softer more balladic moments sound big and enjoyable.

Definitely worth exploring it’s easy to enjoy. 7.5/10

Joe Gessin