Marchello Destiny Reissue Review
Marchello
Destiny (Remaster/Reissue)
High Roller Records
2026
I’m about to show my age, and probably a few other things, talking about Marchello’s debut “Destiny,” but I’ve “got no shame.” Back in 1989, the scene outside the underground and Thrash was dominated by Sleaze, AOR, and all things glossy. I was into both worlds, but let’s be honest, the pretty-boy stuff was way easier to get your hands on thanks to MTV, budget bins, and Headbangers Ball doing the lord’s work late at night.
So why dig up an album most of you have probably never even heard of? Because it’s just been reissued by High Roller Records and more importantly, because it absolutely rips. “Destiny” punched way above its weight class and never got the push it deserved. I caught the video for “First Love” back in the day and was hooked immediately, but it took me a while to track down the cassette. By the time I did, it was sitting in a budget bin, which, honestly, is where half the best records of that era were hiding anyway.
When I started collecting vinyl again, “Destiny” was one of my early pickups, and I played the absolute hell out of it all over again. It slid perfectly alongside stuff like Pretty Boy Floyd, Shotgun Messiah, and White Lion, and it still does. At some point, in a moment of questionable judgment (read: complete lapse of reason), I sold my copy in one of those Facebook groups. Why? No clue. We all make mistakes.
Fast forward to 2026, and “Destiny” has finally gotten the remaster/reissue treatment it always deserved. If you’ve got any love for AOR, Sleaze, or Glam Metal, this is a no-brainer. The album is stacked with soaring melodies, ripping guitar leads, and more sky-high falsettos than should be legally allowed. And here’s the thing, there’s surprisingly little cheese. The lyrics and overall approach feel more mature than a lot of their contemporaries, especially given the era. If I had to throw out a comparison, I’d say it lands somewhere in the realm of Dokken, but with a higher vocal range and tighter, more deliberate songwriting.
And those vocals? Completely out of this world. This was an era where singers went for it - no half-measures, no irony, no winking at the camera. They believed in what they were doing, dug in deep, and gave it everything they had. Never mind the teased hair, makeup, or whatever else people love to clown on - it’s still Metal. Always was. If you’re one of those people who dismiss this stuff as “hair metal” or “butt rock,” that’s your loss. You either lived it, or you didn’t, and if you didn’t, you missed out on something pretty damn special.
This reissue sweetens the deal with a handful of bonus tracks that make the whole package even more worthwhile. If you were there back in the day, this is a nostalgia trip you shouldn’t pass up. And if you weren’t? Even better, here’s your chance to experience it the way it should’ve hit the first time around. Just because it slipped through the cracks in ’89 doesn’t mean it has to now.
Nostalgia gets a bad rap, but when it comes to records like this? It’s not just justified, it’s essential.
Standouts – “First Love”, “Destiny”, “Love Begins Again”, “What If” and “Rock N’ Roll Rumble”.