Desert Near The End return with their fifth full-length work, entitled “The Dawning of the Sound”, on May 27.
Once more, the Desert Near The End deliver and exceed expectations. Five records have been released, counting the soon-to-be-released one, and five times they have crushed like thunder taking the scene by storm. Is this is their best work? I have no clue and I do not really care. The “Dawning of the Son” is a fierce power metal record and a pointless comparison for the sake of comparison will not do any good and picking favorites it’s a fundamental subjective process. So, without wasting any more time or words, let’s get to the main course.
The “Dawning of the Son” will not be the record that will break the concept album pattern that the Desert Near The End have established. Thank God for that, because the concept album and Desert Near The End combination is one that so far cannot disappoint.
Lyrically, it is based on the first trilogy of the “The Red Rising Saga” by Pierce Brown. A colonized Mars, a caste system of oppression, the death of a loved one and the brutal ascension through the ranks of the powerful that results in a bloody rebellion, are the core events around which the Desert Near The End narrate both musically and lyrically their story.
I should agree with you, the concept is absolutely intriguing and thanks to the well-written lyrics narrating fluently and smoothly the story, it is really easy to pay attention to the plot while, also, listening to the music.
Musically, the “The Dawning of the Son” has the influences of Desert Near The End a bit more tamed, resulting in an even more sincere and straightforward Desert Near The End sound. Epic, aggressive and explosive the band’s fifth work has some of the finest drum work I have seen so far in 2022, moving the overall sound to death metal routes thanks to the use of blast beats and furious playing. The thrash influences are reduced to minimum and are visible along with the Blind Guardian influences. Selling point of the album should be, also, considered the amazing vocal performance that is absolutely captivating and at some point sent shivers down my spine.
Overall, we are talking about a plainly great release. The “Dawning of the Son” is a massive yet elegant work, that once more proves the great musicianship of Desert Near The End, a unique sounding power metal record, fierce, aggressive and epic, that every metal must dedicate one listening session to it.
1. Break the Chains
2. Rise for Dominion
3. A Wolf Amongst Lions
4. Iron Rain
5. I Am Hell and Hell Is Me
6. Wound My Way
7. Obsidian Angel
8. Beyond the Gates
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