Destruction Time Again! is the second album from Swedish metallers Loch Vostok. For those of you who don't know, Loch Vostok is driven by Teddy Moller who used to be the drummer of the underrated prog band Mayadome. After releasing two albums with them, both of which were excellent, the band disbanded and Moller founded Loch Vostok. Not only did he he quit the drumming position in his new band, but he also picked up the guitar and started singing.
Compared to their debut Dark Logic, Destruction Time Again! does not show much change in songwriting and production. Although labeled "extreme progressive metal" by some, there is nothing progressive about Loch Vostok's music. Moller continues to alternate between his semi-growled vocals and big, modern day Soilwork-like clean harmonies, whilst the songs are filled with lots of heavy guitar riffs, pumping bass, and strong drumming. There is lots of keyboard work on the album, played by Andreas Lindahl who must have replaced the former keyboardist. Standouts are the melodic guitar work on "Humanitix" with its solid synths and guitar blending; the Evergrey-like (think Monday Morning Apocalypse) crunch of "Rebound", full with big bass sounds, brutal screaming, catchy clean chorus and some female back-up vocals; and the fierce "Xerox Nation", guesting Lawrence Mackrory formerly of Andromeda. There is some cool lead exchange happening on "Autumn Lord"; while the title track begins with the line "I will become the master of the universe" before erupting into a full-blown post-thrash meets metalcore heaviness. More metalcore riffage is offered on the slightly electronica-tinged "Symbiosis", which also contains a fusiony lead guitar solo whose tone is quite hard to swallow.
All in all, Moller has disbanded and left Mayadome in order to play a more energetic and direct form of modern metal with the occasional shred guitars and keyboards. He seems happy with what he is doing and this disc should appeal to quite some people. It's just that after Mayadome, I can't help but think how badly he is wasting his talents.
Track Listing
- Humanitix
- Rebound
- Jonestown Slumber Party
- Xerox Nation
- Autumn Lord
- Destruction Time Again!
- Symbiosis
- Falself
- Talk
- True Deciever
- Gestalt
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