Album Review: DESTRAGE The Chosen One (05/24)

Destrage is an Italian progressive metalcore band, formed in 2002. Prior to The Chosen One, they released four studio albums. I came in contact with the band when they were touring to promote their previous album A Means to No End (2016). Destrage makes modern metal, very progressive and eclectic. It's actually very difficult to label them within any other genre. There are elements of metalcore/mathcore/djent in the lines of Periphery and The Dillinger Escape Plan, but also Death/Thrash Metal, Industrial, Hard Rock, among others.

The Chosen One is one of those rare cases of progressive music executed in short songs. The album is only 38 minutes, all tracks except the closer "The Gifted One" are around the 4:30 minute mark. But a lot happens in those few minutes of each track. It's a roller-coaster with ups and downs even within a song. The single and opener title track is a good example, the song is aggressive and yet catchy. It feels like a blend of Avenge Sevenfold and German thrash metal. The song opens with a cool guitar riff full of licks, a tool that the band uses at other moments. Musicianship in general is one of the albums highlight. Not only the guitars but also the drums and of course singer  Paolo Colavolpe who is very versatile and supports the band with their genre gymnastics. The chaotic "Mr. Bugman" closes with an almost Pink Floyd like instrumental session. That's how far their eclectic tendencies go. There are some very heavy moments on the album like "At the Cost of Pleasure" that opens like a Meshuggah song but Destrage somehow manages to perfectly blend it with their soft side. The  more accessible side of the band is clear with "Hey, Stranger!" and its almost pop chorus. "Rage, My Alibi" is the song with the most pronounced use of industrial samples. All in all, every of the 8 songs is very unique uses different tools. For a progressive music fan like me, this is all very positive. The one criticism I have is that The Chosen One looses some steam in its last third part.

The Chosen One is a fantastic piece of modern metal. Destrage blends many music styles in a way that actually works. I can't praise them enough for accomplishing that while keeping the songs short and catchy and balancing heaviness and accessibility.

SCORE: 79/100
DR: 5
Genre: Progressive Metalcore
Released by Metal Blade on May 24th, 2019