Fatal Destiny: Palindromia

With a band name like Fatal Destiny and debut album titled Palindromia, the only thing this Verona, Italy based outfit could be is Progressive Metal. And so it proves with an 80s sheen given a Fates Warning workout. Although with a strong eye on melody and punchy line in upfront keyboards, there's a surprising Neo-prog edge added to proceedings. It's this latter aspect that gives Fatal Destiny an interesting side, most outfits in these circles relying more heavily on guitars to get their point across, and while Riccardo Castellatti's fret fury is exactly the controlled aggression this style requires, often it is more an embellishment than the main focus. Instead it is guest keyboard player Alessandro Bertoni who takes on the mantle of scene stealer and pace setter, while singer Andrea Zamboni isn't far behind. With a strongly melodic attack and very little in the way of grit or growl (well, actually none), his approach is a surprising breath of fresh air, the temptation to suggest Fatal Destiny are behind the times, replaced by the knowledge that they are simply refusing to jump on an already over burdened bandwagon.

The album itself is possibly a little short, while being too long to really be classed as an EP, but as they say, better to offer quality over quantity; something this band do very well indeed. On the down side, for all Fatal Destiny are happy to stand out from the current crop of Prog Metallers, that's not to really suggest that they've suddenly hit on a new, vastly differential formula. The feel being one of current-retro Prog as the 80s rush headlong into the 2010s without every really pausing to collect the 90s or 00s on the way.

"Leave Me Here" shows the keenly melodic side of Palindromia, "The Gate Of Time" illustrating the more quirky pop meets prog of Saga. Add in the stretched time signatures on "Human Factory" and a more technical, but no less accessible, side to the band is revealed. All the while the magnificent drumming from Nicolo Dalla Valentina stretching boundaries while holding everything in tight.

Palindromia is an impressive, enjoyable, if hardly ground breaking debut. That said, that Fatal Destiny already seem keen to ensure they begin to build their own strong, individual identity is possibly the reason to get most excited. Watching them develop should be very interesting indeed.

Track Listing
1. Palindromia
2. Beyond Dreams
3. Leave Me Here
4. The Gate Of Time
5. Feel Alone
6. Dear Amy
7. Human Factory
8. No Devil Lived On

Added: May 27th 2016
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Fatal Destiny on facebok
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Language: english

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