Dexter Ward-Rendezvous with Destiny

No Remorse Records
2016

For those of you who are not in the know (in which case why not?), Dexter Ward is a Greek five-piece that was formed back in 2009 and has a back-catalog that includes one promotional demo, a lone single, one split release with Black Soul Horde, and a full-length album entitled "Neon Lights"(Iron on Iron Records). That particular release (which everyone should have in their collection by now!) was a love note to not only fans of classic and traditional metal, but to all of us who simply love & adore N.W.O.B.H.M.-flavored eighties metal and it easily proved to be one of 2011's BEST albums! Fast-forward some five years to the here and now and we find this absolutely amazing metal band not only alive and well, but once more kicking it up old-school style(!) with the soon-to-be-released (and must-have by any means necessary!) "Rendezvous with Destiny". There's no need to worry about the dreaded sophomore slump when it comes to this killer metal band which took it's name from a character in a novel by HP Lovecraft and is brilliantly lead by one-time Battleroar vocalist Marco Concoreggi (Lost Lullaby, Tilarids). On their second full-length album we find Dexter Ward once again  blazing a completely-torched path between the N.W.O.B.H.M. scene and eighties metal and it is truly a beautiful thing to behold! On "Rendezvous with Destiny" Dextar Ward* holds nothing back as they combine elements of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Saxon, Jaguar, and Dragonslayer with the likes of Warlord, Culprit, Omen, Metal Church (debut album only!), Cities, and (early) Savatage. Of course this underrated (and frankly under appreciated!) five-piece does add their own touches to the finished product, but no matter which way you slice it you still end up with one hell of a heavy metal album that is an instant classic! Frankly speaking, if you thought "Neon Lights" was something special then you are going to flip the f**k out for Dextar Ward's upcoming release!  



*Dexter Ward also includes:

Guitarist Manolis "Barraza" Karazeris (Finger Of Scorn, ex-Battleroar)
Guitarist Akis Pastras
Bassist John Lumas Tsimas (Endomain, ex-Airged L'amh, ex-Black Sun)
Drummer Stelios Darakis (The Eternal Suffering, ex-Casus Belli, ex-Lloth, ex-Mortal Torment, ex-Sacred Outcry)

As a side note there will be at least two different versions of "Rendezvous with Destiny". There will be the "normal" eight song release that I was given for this review and then there will be a limited digipak edition that includes the bonus track "Robocop". Seeing as the digipak bonus track features Randy "Thrasher" Foxe (ex-Manilla Road) on drums and keyboards that is the one that I would suggest!