Band:	Destrose
Album:	Destrose
Style:	Heavy metal
Release date:	April 2013

01. The Generations Of Chaos
02. Headless Goddess
03. Sword Of Avenger [remix]
04. Skykiller
05. Destination
06. Romancer
07. Fenixx
08. Lifer 13
09. Nostphilia
10. 破壊の薔薇

Most debut albums aren't worth waiting eight years for. Destrose's one was.

With metal bands, I've usually found good debut albums to be more proof of a band's potential rather than a reflection of their actual ability, be it due to lack of access to professional recording facilities or a line-up that isn't yet settled. You certainly don't expect nine impeccably-produced songs, all of which would make decent singles; then again, most of the songs on Destrose already have. Moody intro "The Generation Of Chaos" aside, "Romancer" is the only brand new composition on the album. Some, such as "Skykiller", date back to Destrose's first demo from 2007. Still, it's not as if the eight-year wait has been due to Axl Rose-level perfectionism - 2013 was the first year of the band's career without a line-up change.

Their official English bio highlights comparisons Japanese music journalists have drawn between them and X Japan - some have apparently even called them a "female version" of the visual kei juggernauts, on account of twin-lead guitars and double-bass drum setup. I assure you that's where any similarities between the two bands end. X Japan's songs commonly exceed six minutes, and their albums can be as much as 50% ballads. The longest song on Destrose clocks in at just 5:30, and there's not a ballad (or perspex grand piano) in sight.

Instead, you get nine songs of wall-to-wall melodic heavy metal, dominated by the husky vocals of Marina Hebiishi. Given its relatively short 41-minute running time, what few flaws there are don't have much opportunity to make themselves known. The musicianship is extremely competent all-round, particularly the drumming, and like I said above, the production is impeccable - no mean feat for an independent production. There's only one complaint I have about Destrose, and it's how restrained and efficient the whole record feels.

The whole package has been very tidily assembled. No song exceeds six minutes, no guitar solo exceeds forty seconds (believe me - I was timing), and the conventions of popular songwriting are adhered to at just about every turn. Maybe it was down to commercial considerations. After all, the Flyingcat Records label is owned by Destrose, and Japan's eternally-shrinking music market is anything but kind to upstart metal bands. Nevertheless, this wholesale lack of any sort of excess or indulgence prevented me from really falling in love with this.

That said, Destrose is still almost alarmingly solid for a debut studio album. Even if guitarist and bandleader Mina has been refining and finessing some songs for up to six years, given all the crap she's had to endure over the years, the fact this record got made at all is some achievement. I just hope she feels able to let herself off the chain a little next time.