This is not the debut of German band The Destiny Program, but a new name for the former dESTINY (they had to change their name because of some legal hassle) – the band existed for ten years, and carries two albums in the luggage already.

If you’re a little bit into the northern European recording-people/tech’s, and look at who produced, recorded and mixed this album (Anders Fridén, Daniel Bergstrand, Jacob Hansen and Tue Madsen) you’ll have a pretty good idea of what the sound of T.D.P. is like: full-bodied, crisp and very much “In-your-face”.

Although Fridén and Bergstrand is most renowned for their work with In Flames and similar bands, this is not melodic death. The punk roots shine through on several of the tracks (especially on the guitar), but this is far more advanced than straight punk. The dominant style is clearly hardcore/metal, but there are also some melodic stuff sounding like metalcore, and also influences from industrial, post punk/new wave and progressive rock mixed into the picture. Imagine a blend between mostly classic hardcore (Poison The Well), some more metallic hardcore (Pro-Pain), some metalcore and a bit of something like Killing Joke, then you’re somewhat on the right track.

The vocals are a mix between the typical angry/painful screams of hardcore, and melodic singing of modern metal or metalcore. I never was a great fan of the roaring style of vocals, that is dominant in hardcore, but it works here, I must admit. I much more prefer the more melodic style they have on some of the tracks, although the all “quiet” track 10 Neurosis and Projection seems to fall out style with the rest.

The musicmanship on the album is okay, tight and sure, and there are some good pounding/moshing pieces, but the composing in general isn’t stunningly impressive. All considered it’s solid work, but nothing revolutionary.

The tracks I recommend below is chosen mostly because of their mood and their melodic parts – if you’re a more straight hardcore fan than I, you’ll probably like other tracks better (Project Hoax among others). Not a bad album, just not quite my taste, and not the one to convince me to like hardcore better than before.

Recommended tracks: "Welcome Overboard", "Escape the Living Plan" and "Rebel Press".