Martin Simson's Destroyer Of Death: Eternal Reign | When Things Are Done Seriously
(2023 – Martin Simson Music)
Suddenly, out of nowhere, we have this project called Destroyer Of Death, which, for further clarification, is the brainchild of bassist Martin Simson, a complete unknown in the world of metal until now, who with great seriousness, professionalism, and determination set to work on what has come to be known as “Martin Simson’s Destroyer Of Death,” a one-man project in which Martin himself has composed almost all the songs included on “Eternal Reign,” his first album, which was released in 2023. However, as you know, in these parts it is very, very difficult to get hold of this kind of material, so for the first time we can now get our hands on a physical copy, as it should be.As you can imagine, “Destroyer Of Death” is a one-man band formed, logically, by Martin Simson, who is responsible for all the bass lines on the album, as well as participating in the composition of such a polished album, which has a very high quality in each of the songs included, and which manage to shine even more with the participation of the illustrious artists who have accompanied Martin in this work. Namely, Rob Rock and Jorn Lande on vocals, Rex Carroll (Whitecross) on guitar on “Rapture,” Anders Johansson (formerly of Yngwie Malmsteen, Manowar, and Hammerfall) on drums on “Master Of All,” Carljohann Grimmark on guitars, and Anders Köllerfors on drums (both currently with Narnia). Truly a dream team to tackle this album.
“Eternal Reign” is an album that we could easily label as melodic heavy metal, but to be fair, upon closer inspection, we find many elements that draw on Hard Rock or even A.O.R., without neglecting a solid foundation in classic Metal sound, adorned with beautiful symphonic orchestrations that give the album a slightly neoclassical feel, without falling into the obviousness of Power Metal or Progressive Metal.It is clear that “Eternal Reign” possesses a quality that is difficult to match, especially because each song is a different world, achieving the difficult task of maintaining a consistent line without falling into the obviousness of songs that are similar to each other. So, the overall mood is that of an album focused on the melodic side of metal but without being repetitive, with different ingredients between songs.With an intro similar to bagpipe sounds, “Holy Ground” is the song chosen to open the fire. Catchy, with well-constructed riffs and melodies, it seems ideal for a powerful start, but already in the second song, which gives the album its title, we find a song with well-planted riffs, mediated by rather orchestral guitar strums. Of course, Rob Rock’s vocals are an added bonus that greatly enhances the final result and gives it that impeccable touch.”Master Of All” ranks as the best track on the album. Here, the vocals are provided by Jorn Lande, who brings his personal touch to the song, and on drums, the experienced Anders Johansson, in a song with a certain “80s techno” feel, in a mix of very well-assembled guitars and keyboards. CJ Grimmark’s guitar solo is perhaps one of the best on the album. “Rapture” is another highlight, featuring Rex Carroll on guitar solo and two duets with CJ Grimmark, continuing the line already traced in this album.With “Never Surrender,” metal becomes much more noticeable. Its bass lines and choruses make you nod your head quite a bit, maybe not too much, but enough to not let it pass you by. “Dragon Defeated” is perhaps where the experimental side is most noticeable, even though it is reminiscent of early Narnia. Introspective and climactic, its melodies take “Destroyer Of Death” into different territory. CJ Grimmark’s guitar orchestration gives it a distinctive touch. “War Within” seems to continue in a similar vein, but its semi-locked base and roots more centered on classic metal give it a totally different feel.The song “Destroyer Of Death” was the single that launched this project back in 2021, but this is a different version, as it has been re-recorded, extended, and remastered, resulting in something different from the version that was originally released as a preview of this album, following the same musical line we have referred to. Next up is “Glory To The King,” with a much more traditional heavy metal sound.As a kind of bonus track, there is a new, extended version of “Master Of All,” containing an additional guitar solo and lasting approximately 15 seconds longer, with a different mix and remastering compared to track 3 of the album, with this latest version sounding much heavier than the original.While the influence of both Narnia’s sound and Rob Rock’s solo work on the album is undeniable, which is logical considering the important contribution made by both the vocalist and CJ Grimmark and the rest of Narnia, the truth is that what Martin Simson has achieved on this album is very remarkable. First of all, in terms of the songs. What stands out most is the traditional composition of each piece on the album, and of course, those guitar orchestrations, often with the addition of just the right amount of keyboards, which give “Eternal Reign” a distinctive personality, capturing our attention on every track of the album. It’s not that this material stands out for its originality, but it does stand out for its quality. That’s what it has in abundance.
Precisely, when it comes to sound production, it is clear that there is a lot of work behind the console, with CJ Grimmark once again as the main producer and mixer, and the well-known Viktor Stenquist in charge of mastering. The result is there for all to see, or rather, hear. The audio is excellent in every way. Each instrument sounds as it should, and together, the result is truly a great piece of work.
In terms of the artwork, the cover of “Eternal Reign” and the design concept itself are really very good and contribute a lot to the idea of the album. It may not be one of the best album covers, but it is one of those that allows you to know who the album is by at first glance. In addition, the inner sleeve, as is customary, includes the lyrics to the songs, which have a Christian message without falling into the usual clichés. At least they are interesting enough.
For a first album, “Eternal Reign” appears to be a record with a quality that stands on its own. Of course, we are looking forward to a second album to see how this project continues, which at first glance shows very good initial results. Martin Simson has everything it takes to succeed, it will just be a matter of waiting for confirmation….
This album is available on both CD and vinyl, so to get your hands on it (we recommend the physical format), visit https://jonomusic.com/ or https://indiemusic.se/. You can also find more information, news, and other details about Martin Simson’s Destroyer Of Death on his social media accounts, as well as the lyric video for “Master Of All” so you can hear a sample of this excellent album…
https://www.facebook.com/DestroyerOfDeath
https://www.instagram.com/msdestroyerofdeath
