Band : Destination's Calling
Album title : Invisible Walls
Label : Silverwolf Productions
Distributor : SPV - CNR
Release date : 26/09/2008
Release : CD

This German Power Metal act (based in Berolzheim in the Baden-Würtemberg district; the town is situated between Stüttgart & Würzburg, between Mannheim & Nürnburg) formed in the Summer of 1999 with an initial line-up comprising lead singer/ guitarist Christian Gräter, guitarist Markus Göller, and drummer Olliver Noe.

Later to be replaced but still running along for the ride would be bassist Alexander Schreiner and keyboardist Benjamin Kessel. In fact, in this line-up the band would release a full-length (8-track) rehearsal recorrding as their debut demo Mastery Of The Light in 2001, and a 3-track Promo CD in January 2003. Schreiner would then be replaced by Steffen Singler, the band returning that same year with the 3-track Promo CD in November. The band inducted drummer ChristianFrank into their ranks, and made a final change in their line-up with the exit of their keyboardist in October 2006. As a foursome the band then returned (they'd already recorded their 3rd demo at that same place) to Dreamscape Studios to record the full-length which would eventually attract the attention of the recently founded German Silverwolf imprint.

Following a keyboard-driven intro (keyboard will be back during other tracks, played either by Gräter, Göller, or co-producer & recording engineer Jan Vacik), a fair portion of the 10 songs are somewhat remeniscent to the Progressive tones of Crimson Glory and even Queensrÿche. Very well executed, and it is therefore a pity that Gräter's Teutonic accent spoils the whole thing in those songs which have a calmer passage, geared towards the balladesque, or simply have calmer vocals (check out "Trapped In Silence", "Bleeding Again", the album title track, "Sentenced"...). Taken overall, the band would've done better at leaving out those tracks all together, because once you've heard 'em you'll find yourself actually lóóking for that aspect in the music in other songs (in which Gräter brings a really good and certainly acceptable performance) as well which...I don't have to actually tell you...severely kills the mood! Guest performances come courtesy of Dreamscape's Roland Stoll (backing vocals alongside Gräter and Göller) and one Angela Wiedergut, who does the Star Trek influencedspoken word intro to "Sentenced" (already featured on the 2nd 2003 demo, as are "Turning Away" – one of the album's better songs, in the vocal department at least – and "Destination's Calling", a repeat exercise from the band's very first demo of 2001 – not surprisingly, it is not only one of the best developed songs but also the longest track).

In conclusion, I feel this album may indeed do very well in those areas of the world where German is spoken, but may very well get a cold reception from those places where that language isn't that general. Make up your own mind about the band (and the "side" you belong to), by surfing to myspace.com/destinationscalling, where the band posted clips to 5 of the album's songs.

80/100

Tony.