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Vision Divine: Destination Set to Nowhere

Progressive Power Metal

4.5/5.0

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earMusic(EU) / Armoury Records(NA)
by Craig Hartranft,  09.09.2012

What began as a solo project for guitarist Olaf Thorsen in 1998 has brought his ensemble Vision Divine to their seventh album, Destination Set to Nowhere. It's a sci-fi tale about humanity forsaking earth and it's problems and hoping to begin again on a new world. Alas, their idealism is shattered as they repeat the cycle of problems they sought to avoid. So they take flight once more to begin again, setting their destination to nowhere.

Vision Divine: destination set to Photoshop.

The story plays out through Vision Divine's trademark progressive power metal, led by Thorsen's sharp riffs and solos, and Fabio Lione's impressive vocal skills. With his recent work with Rhapsody and Kamelot, Lione easily establishes himself as gifted and versatile singer. However, sometimes these two are upstaged by the keyboard play of Alessio Lucatti, who is not reduced to accents or simply symphonic layers.

Actually, Destination Set to Nowhere is definitely prog power metal, and little symphonic power metal. That's not a bad thing, as we seem to have been swamped with the latter in this year.

For the power metal side of Vision Divine, you can't beat the speed and urgency of The Lighthouse, Here We Die, or The Ark. (But even these have subtle prog nuances). The band is best when the arrangements merge prog and power metal as on Beyond the Sun and Far Away, Mermaids From Their Moons, or The Sin Is You (a song which clarifies man's dilemma in this story).

Ultimately, the combination of versatile song composition and solid musicianship bringing it to life is what makes Destination Set to Nowhere a successful progressive power metal adventure. Easily recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

The combination of versatile song composition and solid musicianship bringing it to life is what makes Vision Divine's Destination Set to Nowhere a successful progressive power metal adventure.

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