Reviewed by David Pearce

Artist – Desert
Album – Star Of Delusive Hopes
Label – Sleaszy Rider Records
Year – 02 January 2011

Track Listing
1. The Unsubdued
2. Massada Will Never Fall
3. Letter Of Marque
4. Victim Of The Light
5. Release Me
6. Soul Of A Wanderer
7. Whispers
8. Lament For Soldier’s Glory (Order 227)
9. Star Of Delusive Hopes

Desert was founded in 2002 by guitarist Max Shafranski in one of Israel’s industrial and cultural centres the city of Beer-Sheva. The band’s name was chosen for a reason – it was located in the middle of biblical sands where Moses has led his people to the Promised Land ages ago. In 2004 vocalist Alexei Raymar and keyboard player Oleg Aryutkin (just 16 years old at the time!) joined the band and things became serious. Desert has expanded it’s musical palette since then,
mixing in some darker colours to go with power metal glitter. Desert has been gigging various venues ranging from small clubs to open-air festivals, sharing bills with acts like Sabaton, Draconian also Nightmare and Tim “Ripper” Owens. Desert’s debut album, entitled Star of Delusive Hopes, was released in late 2010 through Greek label Sleaszy Rider. The Internet single Lament for Soldier’s Glory, featuring a guest performance by Joakim Broden, the lead singer of Sabaton, received an instant recognition by fans in both Israel and Europe. Star of Delusive Hopes tells stories of great men and women who lived and gave there for freedom and beliefs, stories of lost hopes and betrayal.

The album starts off with The Unsubdued, a cracking riff that gets my head nodding straight away the vocals are dark which goes in a growl then switches into clean vocals which are done very well. The keyboards in the song give’s it another edge musically but throughout the song you have a great riff, the solos are done very well this is a great start to the album. The next three songs are Massada Will Never Fall, Letter Of Marque & Victim Of The Light, All of these song have some fantastic guitar work from the riffs to the solos the vocals are outstanding. The drum work in Letter Of Marque is superb from the start of the song to the finish also the keyboards on the songs could not be any better just brilliant. The Fifth song on the album is Release Me this starts off slow with a quality intro then the vocals come in slow and clean but with desire. Then the a heavy guitar riff comes in purpose but keeping that slow tempo in the background you hear the chiming of bells that leads you right into an outstanding guitar solo. The vocals come back in till near the end of the song which ends with the chiming of the bells. The next Two songs are Soul Of A Wanderer & Whispers are full of the same quality dark and clean vocals, brilliant riffs, stunning solos, fantastic keyboards and quality drumming. The Eighth song on the album Lament for Soldier’s Glory features vocals of Joakim Broden of Sabaton the song starts of with the keyboards slow but purposeful then the vocals come in slow and clean with Alexei and Joakim’s taking in turns with the vocals. This song tells a great story of the soldiers glory it is that good it gave me goose pimples just listing to it. It has some brilliant guitar work in it along with the keyboards and the vocals make this song one of my favourites on the album. The Ninth and last song on the album Star Of Delusive Hopes starts of with the keyboards then the guitar comes smashing in over the keyboards. Then the vocals come in and again they are absolute quality. The solos in this are again stunning this really is a great ending song to the album.

Overall
The album overall has been just brilliant from the first song to the last there is something for everyone on this it has good quality vocals, superb keyboards, heavy quality riffs and stunning solos. The best song on the album for me has to be Lament for Soldier’s Glory it tells a fantastic story and it has Joakim Broden of Sabaton doing some guest vocals. But every song on the album is brilliant they have been well written and perfectly produced.

9/10

Members
Alexei Raymar – vocals
Max Shafranski – guitar
Sergei Metalheart – guitar
Sergei Dmitrik – bass
Oleg Aryutkin – keyboards
Assaf Markowitz – drums