Spellbound - Incoming Destiny

*=Staff's pick	Sonic Departure Incoming Destiny* Arrival Of The Gods The Hollow* Spiritual Decline* Focus 22 Trust In Fire View To Remote Hate* The Human Race

Genre	Thrash Metal	Lennart Vocke	Vocals
Tracks	10	David Maier	Guitar
Runningtime	40 Min.	Daniel Tschoepe	Guitar
Label	Armageddon Music	Lennart Vocke	Bass
Release	17 Oct. 2005	Kai Lohwasswer	Drums
Country	Germany	-	Keyboards
Similar artists	Destruction, Exodus

Germany's Spellbound have been around since 1998 making their way of thrash metal. As the press statement from Armageddon Music, the bands' label, says: 'Spellbound perform thrash with old school elements, blended with Bay Area style'. Well, that's big words to live up to, but after some listening to Incoming Destiny I'm ready to sign on to the fact that Spellbound do their thrash with serious portions of both old school and Bay Area influenced metal.

Incoming Destiny is produced by none less than Andy Classen at the Stage One Studios. And when you use a demon producer like that, you'll usually get a real killer sound. The chemistry between Spellbound and Mr. Classen seems to have worked real nice as the sound on Incoming Destiny has both depth and a tremendous heaviness. And most important of all, the sound is quite authentic. It sounds as it would have been recorded during the golden era of this genre, among mighty ones as Kreator or Testament.

With Incoming Destiny, Spellbound show a very wide spectre of musical diversity. The traditional Thrash as you can expect from Germany can be heard on Spiritual Decline. The more American style comes out in Trust In Fire with its heavy riffings and drum arrangements. Speed and heavy parts very suitable together. I wouldn't say that Incoming Destiny is a speed trip in insane compositions. It's all very well thought threw and planned which points at really good knowledge in the art of song writing. Aggression and intensity are there but in controlled forms.

I must say that I really enjoy what my speakers offer when I listen to Spellbound. Good thrash, plain and simple, well combined with the great vocals from Lennart Vocke. Traditional thrash vocals but still very personal, a bit like a darkened blend of Mille and Schmier. What can be better than that? With killer songs such as Hate and The Hollow, Spellbound hold the banner of thrash high and at the same time let us know that there is still hope. Spellbound feels like a fresh and necessary injection these days, as this genre seems to be starved and held alive only on countless reunions.

Production	Vocals	Compositions
8	8	8

Summary
8 chalices of 10 - Tim