Destiny is basically just Visions Pt. 2, except that it's a lot worse. Why, you ask? A more appropriate question would be where to start. First off, I can tell something's wrong right from the beginning. Two ultra-long tracks? Uh oh. If you've heard Visions or read my review for it, then you know that Stratovarius doesn't know how to do epic songs. Nothing's changed here; Destiny and Anthem of the World are totally boring and pointless throughout. I deem the latter to be worse than anything on Infinite, a horrible environmental message that goes about nine minutes too far. Even worse is the fact that these songs are the first and last tracks of the album, making Destiny feel like an eternity despite the fact that it is one of Stratovarius's shorter albums.
In between those lackluster time-wasters, the rest of the tracks are not much better. No Turning Back is trademark Stratovarius: reusing the exact same idea yet again, with simple, repetitive verses that lead to an even more boring chorus. There's nothing novel or nostalgic about this; it's just done to dirt, over and over again. Rebel follows suit, another freaking identical song with the same structure, same bad, typical power metal lyrics, and same over-the-top cheesy chorus. How people make it through albums like this without getting bored is beyond me, and it's barely halfway over. Years Go By is the obligatory power ballad, complete with that same verse you've heard a million times before that leads into that same old chorus. Dull, uninspired, pointless... All these words come to mind. God, just let it end!
Highlights? Fewer than ever before, although the scant amount of them really are good. S.O.S. is beyond excellent, presenting the album's only good lyrics. Kotipelto actually sounds like he gives a damn for once, chanting his way through the awesome, buoyant chorus. Playing With Fire is good only in a classic, bad 80's way, as this thing screams hair metal in every way. Somehow it's a highlight.
The only stab at creativity here is the unique Venus in the Morning, actually breaking out some progressive and strange sounding stuff. I have a feeling that this is one of those that's only good because there's nothing else here like it. Ballad 4000 Rainy Nights is decent, but I liked it much better when Queensryche did it eight years before (Seriously, Another Rainy Night? Come on.) The rest is completely weak and lifeless.
Why am I even surprised anymore? This seems to happen every time with Stratovarius; they get one good album with good ideas and then reuse that album and those ideas with less and less success with each subsequent release. The fact that Destiny is only slightly below par for Stratovarius is pretty sad, because the material here is mostly worthless. This thing gets worse every time I hear it, and I wouldn't listen to Destiny again. It may not be Fourth Dimension bad, or even bad in a complete sense, but it just goes on and on in an interminable fashion. From the very first second it starts playing, you just want Destiny to end, and you shouldn't want that from a good album, obviously. When will people wake up and realize that there is virtually no difference between this and what fans deem to be the worst albums? Never.
Overall: 5.5/10 (Mediocre)
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