DESERT NEAR THE END – “Tides of time” (2024)

Another attack from Greece, this time it is the turn of DESERT NEAR THE END to take the torch and present us their 6th studio album. For those encountering their name for the first time we have to do with a unique combination of Thrash/Power that serves as a great, yet slightly different, substitution for the loss of ICED EARTH. The album’s lyrical themes explore the rise and fall of cities, heroes, and kings, with a cover matching the premise and ending up as one of the best for this year, a treat for those that still collect physical format.

What makes this band great is that they have very standout characteristics so I will start with them. The first is how they blend a very aggresive and powerful sound with adventurous compositions. ‘Oceans of time’ has a riff similar to AMON AMARTH to give you an example of their intentions. And while the music is very heavy the result is anything but a monotonous pounding. Songs are like stories with a huge pallete of sounds and alterations, occasionally employing the use of keyboards and accoustic/clean guitars to weave a very epic and cinematic mantle.

The triumphant and melancholic element is in air in the entirety of the record and the instrumentation is not the sole suspect for this. The vocals of Alexandros play a pivotal part for this and end up as something unique within the genre. He combines somewhat extreme vocals that I wouldn’t say they cross the line to brutal, while at others he sounds very theatrical with cleaner singing. What the two approaches have in common is that they share the same passion in their execution, another detail that reminded me of ICED EARTH and more specifically Matt Barlow. Need I dive into each of the members individually? They all play like there is no tomorrow, while in the heavier parts they take no prisoners.

Something that I cannot omit to discuss is how the band has developed over the years. I remember my introduction to them being with their 3rd album “Theater of war”. It was great yet I recall liking some tracks more than the others. In “Tides of time” I hear no better or weaker songs, the whole tracklist is equal as the transition between fast and slower moments has been perfected creating something that flows smoothly and unhindered. In the end it is a band staying faithful to their sound while improving it with each release until they hit the bullseye.

At this point I usually mention issues I found or things I would like to be improved in future endeavors, but this record has totally eliminated the need for this. “Tides of time” comes to reignite my appettite for the more tradiniotal and heavy sound, it is what pure Metal should be today in order to remain interesting and fresh and the only wish I would had from the future DESERT NEAR THE END, is to repeat something grant like this. Do I suggest it? So much that I would urge you to purchase it blindly without listening to any preview, and experience it in its entirety from start to finish like the good old times.

90/100

Pavlos Pavlakis

100: Godsent

90s: Excellent

80s: Very good

70s: Good

60s: Can be enjoyable

50s: Uninspired

40s: Bad

0s -30s: Unlistenable