Somewhere in North Carolina during the Melrose Place / Bugle Boy era of the 1990's, a few kids were cranking IRON MAIDEN and MANOWAR while taking drags off of the Virginia Slim cigarettes copped from their moms purse. Years later the same dudes are cranking out some better than decent replications of their beloved Power Metal gods in homage at small bars on rural roads. Not far down the line they get some cash together and release a full length of their best-of-the-bunch material and it turns a few heads getting them some sweet opening spots on gigs throughout the south. Without doing the research it is possible for one to come to the conclusion that this is the story of DARK DESIGN, a full throttle classic Metal act coming of age about 20 years late.

"Prey For The Future" is an ironic title as DARK DESIGN are so intently holding on to their Metal roots on their first full length player. That's not necessarily a bad thing though because these guys studied the right books in Metal school. The opening intro "In Medias Res" is a classically on point and surprisingly subdued intro to the record as a soft guitar strumming guides us into their world like a crossing guard holding your hand to safety. Though you are not safe for long as the semi-truck of riffage that begins the self-titled "Dark Design" smashes you would down with lighting speed licks and great structure.

No doubt the musicianship on "Prey For The Future" is top-notch, the double guitar onslaught led by Ray Lewl and Mike Joyner is a battling ram of razor sharp riffs. Not to be out done, Robbie Mercer displays absolute precision and keeps up with Lewl and Joyner for a heavy metal clinic that will leave many other new bands spitting up dust.

While "Welcome To You're (DOOM)!" may have some grammatical inaccuracies, the song plods along like a "Saint Anger" era METALLICA B-side. "Meditations" is more of a barnburner, growing out of control into a frenzy of solo's and double bass before cranking into fantasy Metal tomfoolery with musings on the 'temples of kings'. This is fantasy Metal at its core, lyrically taking you into a realm of make believe that easily leaves thoughts of the nine-to-five far behind but is not quite evolved enough to make you believe the band can quit there. There are hints of something great in the song structure and musicianship but the overall product still screams weekend warrior. It's evident that DARK DESIGN has no desire to reinvent the wheel; rather they would just like to spin with it for a while and maybe do a few donuts in the Heavy Metal parking lot.