Reviews

From the opening track “The Last Time” (5:12) to the ‘epic’ closing title track, “Destroy All Monsters” (7:10), the listener is in for a wild ride through progressive rock, pop and electronica music. There is not a bad track on the album. I’m quite fond of all the songs, it’s also hard to pin-point any highlights because the whole album is a highlight. I feel that Destroy All Monsters should be listened to several times to fully appreciate the beauty that Dec Burke has created. Even though I received the album long after it‘s release date, I just had to include it as part of my top 50 favorite releases of 2010. I can’t recommend this album enough. I keep replaying it over and over and it never gets old. That’s a the sign of a perfect album in my opinion. I can’t wait to see where Dec goes from here.
prognaut.com/reviews/dec-burke.html

...Most epic track is the title track which is a lovely track to end the album in which pop and prog moods take turns to climax the track with the slowly fading keyboards only forcing the listener to press play again to start the album with the catchy opener “The last time”. All in all it’s an album for people who dare to step out of pre-defined genre-boxes. No this isn’t a classic progressive rock release but isn’t one of the great things about progressive rock that artists dare to take chances while writing songs? If you know Dec Burke from Darwin’s Radio and Frost* this album adds a nice twist to your collection because it gives you a glimpse into another side of Dec Burke’s composing...
harmoniclizard.com/?q=node/97

...So filled with musical ideas was he, that he set about writing his first solo album. And here it is, just a few short months after his decision. Dec has written and produced all the tracks on Destroy All Monsters, as well as doing all the vocals, playing nearly all of the guitar parts and most of the keyboard bits. But Dec's not a greedy man, as he's enlisted the help of mates Nathan King (Frost), Tim Churchman (Darwin's Radio), Steve Kightley (ex Coralspin), Hywel Bennett and Carl Westholm to give him some support on this. The album opens with The Last Time, and we can confidantly say that this isn't the last time you'll hear from Dec. This track gives a clear foretaste of whats to come in the next 45 minutes. Dec's solo work takes on a "more rock than prog" approach, similar to the modern prog/rock sounds of Blind Ego and Pendragon. Winter To Summer breezes in next, a nice mix of light and heavy passages, with Decs voice mixed more like another instrument than o proper vocal...
www.silhobbit.com/mambo/content/view/675/109

Best known as the singer of British bands Darwin's Radio and Frost *, Declan Burke is a near-one-man-show on his first solo CD Destroy All Monsters. Playing all guitars and most of the keyboards, singing all vocals, programming some drum tracks, and writing and producing the whole schmeer himself, Burke uses the CD as a showcase for his talents, and they're in great supply. An emotive singer and virtuoso guitarist, Burke shows here that he's a first-rate songwriter - the material is excellent throughout, especially standout tracks like "The Last Time" and "Signs of Life", which capably mix progressive textures with modern techno sounds, much in the style of Frost*.
www.e-gear.com/article/dec-burke-frost-singer-prog-rock-solo-debut-cd/1#utm_source=e-gear.com&utm_medium=search_results_page&utm_campaign=search_result

Comparisons with Spock's Beard and Dream Theater are easy to say, yet there is so much more beneath the surface. This is truly a modern take on an old outdated module. Opener 'The Last Time' begs you to close your eyes and let it take you away to a whole new dimension. To be honest, Dec's album is a more pop take on the prog genre. The sound is described as a meld of Depeche Mode and Foo Fighters. While I can't really hear the Foos in there, Depeche Mode I certainly can. 'Winter To Summer' is the kind of song that most bands would love to have written. It is a beautiful piece of music that unfortunately will be passed on by the masses, yet will give us open minded people a smugness level so high that we may be taken away to the funny farm. As mentioned above, while the album consists of just nine tracks, those nine songs are works of art with their own belief. Dec has produced a masterpiece untouched by others in this genre!
www.uberrock.co.uk/cd-reviews/30-october-cd/1458-dec-burke-destroy-all-monsters-progrock-records.html

I must confess to knowing little about Dec Burke and when we received “Destroy All Monsters” for review I was intrigued to say the least. My first impression whilst I was driving with it playing in the car was one of surprise and apprehension. However, once I was armed with a mug of peppermint tea and sat comfortably in front of my hi-fi all the apprehensive thoughts took flight. The album kicks off with the trail blazer that is “The Last Time”. This massive opening gambit would not be out of place as accompaniment to a CSI type crime drama. Fast moving with just a hint of Prog metal this mean and moody piece sets the pace for a large majority of this well put together and packaged album. Having pinned me firmly to my chair the gentle introduction to “Winter To Summer” give me pause for breath before regaining the pace of it’s predecessor. The song demonstrates Dec Burkes adept touch with not only guitar and keyboards but as a very competent music technologist. I make no apology for suggesting that this too could very easily be used as a James Bond theme. Dark and powerful it throws itself headlong into the next track “Signs Of Life”. The thunder and lightning being stirred up by Ark man Tim Churchman on drums project “Signs Of Life” from the confines of the speakers and aims it right at the listener. Clever keyboard and electronica prevent this tsunami of a track from being full blown thrash. This is somewhat contrasted by “Something” which is as close to pop as Dec Burke will allow himself to become, though I suspect Simon Cowell would not allow his acts to sing it on X-Factor. Praise be! “Open" brings the pace down a tad and finds the ex-Frost man singing an atmospheric almost holographic ballad. The feel and style is maintained throughout the following piece “Promised. Eerie would be the way that I would describe this song and it has a nice synth solo included for good measure beautifully played by Carl Westholm. “Small Hours” is very easy to like. I found that it is without doubt, the most bright and breezy song on the whole album. I was reminded by the chorus of Carly Simon’s “Let The River Run”. There is also a great guitar solo in the middle played by Hywel Bennett. Not I suspect the famous actor. I felt that on this particular piece that a great deal of dexterity and deftness had been shown which allowed a showcase for a great musical unit. Moving on to the concluding title track “Destroy All Monsters” brought to an end to a daring and mysterious collection of mainly steel edged songs which I fear may represent the darker side of life. After the second proper listen to this album I found it compulsive and I found myself doing something I hadn’t done for many years, referring to the superb cover for inspiration with regard to images represented by music and lyric. I am unsure if there is a storyboard to this dark, exciting and intriguing album but I intend to find out. I may even ask Dec Burke himself. Watch this space. In the meantime I suggest you get on line and order yourself a copy.
www.progmeister.com/reviews.php

...The songs themselves are incisive prog-pop workouts that rely on wonderful little guitar motifs to interplay with layered keys and Burke's impassioned vocals. The bass work, from both Nathan King and Steve Knightly and percussion from Tim Churchman is faultless, as it lays a foundation for Burke to build his wonderful melodies upon. Songs like the dramatic, edgy keyboard led title track, or the electro-prog of "Winter To Summer" reveal an enigmatic album from a genuinely talented song writer and it doesn't end there. "Signs Of Life" comes over as a vibrant, frantic slab of keyboard melody and "Open" exposes a heart breaking, melancholic side to Burke that is as stark as it is fresh. That melancholy is still somehow blended with a commercial sheen that suggests that Dec could well be on a winner with some more opened minded melodic rock fans, prog fans who don't rely on 70 minute suites, or even the chart friendly masses who somehow get the likes of Muse or Tool (although Dec is much more laid back and straight forward than that pair)...
www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=9993