DRAGONLORD „“Black Wings of Destiny””

Music: symphonic black metal/thrash
Country: USA
Website: www.myspace.com/dragonlord
Cool Songs: Revelations, Black Funeral, Fallen

For those who haven’t heard, TESTAMENT guitarist Eric Peterson moonlights as a black metal front man in DRAGONLORD, corpse paint and all. Peterson has been showing his affinity for darker music for a few years now. “Black Wings of Destiny,” released in 2005, was the second effort of DRAGONLORD. The said album shows Peterson incorporating more experimentation, trying new ideas to build upon the symphonic black metal/thrash first established in 2001 with “Rapture.”

Stylistically, “Black Wings of Destiny” does not stray too far from “Rapture.” The thrash-meets-symphonic black metal sound is still apparent. Peterson still busts out some ripping leads, melodic solos, and TESTAMENT-style thrash breaks. The TESTAMENT influence is less apparent, though, with this release. “Black Wings of Destiny” further embraces the sound of such polished, popular symphonic black metal bands like CRADLE OF FILTH and DIMMU BORGIR, especially DIMMU. Through a mixture of floating, ethereal ambience and Victorian piano passages, the keyboards relate a similar, satanic feel as DIMMU BORGIR. “Revelations” sounds like a lost track from DIMMU’s “Enthroned Darkness Triumphant” album. Additionally, Peterson’s vocals recall DIMMU front man Shagrath with sickly, tortured, yet lyrically-identifiable shrieks.

Peterson’s vocal work is a thing of note. He projects his vocals, both cleanly and harshly, to levels unheard before in this project or TESTAMENT. He bares no strain in holding his black metal screams, and proves his worth as a true singer. Robust, and Nordic in nature, the clean vocals of tracks such as “Sin of Allegiance” and “Until the End” lend a majestic, mighty feel that was missing on the group’s former album.

Near the album’s end, Peterson pays homage to the groups that first inspired him to pick up a guitar. First he pays homage to one of the greatest occult bands ever. A band credited with having laid the ground work for symphonic black metal. This group I’m talking about is none other than the all-mighty MERCYFUL FATE. Peterson honors KING DIAMOND and company with a keyboard-laden black metal version of “Black Funeral.” The original contained enough evil that DRAGONLORD sing entirely with harsh vocals and still turn out a descent rendition. Peterson’s lack of ghostly chants during the chorus is filled in with keyboards that follow KING’S epic vocal melodies. Also, the solos are good enough to lay side-by-side with Sherman’s and Denner’s. Good cover, but still not does not stand up to the original. Peterson assumes his best classic rock voice for the album’s finale, a cover of THIN LIZZY’s “Emerald.” Although a drastic change from the Satanic ritual known as “Black Funeral” this track has some classic metal leads that perfectly fit the old school direction the group enters near the album’s end.

“Black Wings of Destiny” is a marked improvement over DRAGONLORD’s initial effort “Rapture.” Eric Peterson and company have looked to other bands from the said scene for inspiration, while never betraying their thrash roots. Although nothing earth shaking, “Black Wings of Destiny” is worth a purchase if you like refined black metal like DIMMU BORGIR, CRADLE OF FILTH, and GRAVEWORM.

note: 7.7/10

Tracklist

1. The Becoming of
2. The Curse of Woe
3. Revelations
4. Sins of Allegiance
5. Until the End
6. Mark of Damnation
7. Blood Voyeur
8. Fallen
9. Black Funeral (Mercyful Fate cover)
10. Emerald (Thin Lizzy cover)
Total playing time 44:33

Line-up

Eric Peterson – Guitars/Vocals
Lyle Livingston – Keyboards
Jon Allen – Drums
Derrick Ramirez – Bass