Lista de los grupos Death Metal Dominance (ITA) Echoes of Human Decay

Dominance are actually a rather old Death Metal band that was created in 1992 and that already released a first full-length in 1999 for Scarlett Records. After having toured with bands like Malevolent Creation, Krabathor or Suffocation, the Italians have faced several aggravating problems (line-up, label,…) which put an abrupt end to their career while seeing the rise of their fellow-countrymen Natron. Eventually in 2008, most of these issues are past them, and Davide Tognoni and fellow henchmen finally record their second album at Studio 73.

Released by the brand new transalpine label Kolony Records, Echoes of Human Race (2009) is a real resurrection for a band that seemed to have run out of luck.
Past the short intro, the track Last Witness delivers some classical and efficient Death Metal, mostly based on old-school riffs but infinitely more elaborate than what you would expect of, let’s say, Bolt Thrower. Actually the first names I could think of are Trauma (Poland) and above all things Blood Red Throne: identical massive production, similar drums sound, snapping bass (which makes for similar riffs too) amd Mauro Bolognesi’s vocals that clearly are reminiscent of Mr Hustler’s excellent performance on Altered Genesis.

As in the cover picture portraying a serviceman finishing a Christian on a battlefield, Dominance are not for the faint-of-heart. Centering their compositions on wall-of-sound rhythmical parts from the Gianluca Fontanesi / Marco Bertolini pair and supported by the regular bludgeoning (though somewhat too academic) of Davide Tognoni, sometimes you can even grasp Natron’s shadow on some technical parts (Gilgamesh). A few more melodic elements are sometimes inserted in the tracks for a somewhat lukewarm result.
Alternating between heavy and fast tracks, Dominance eventually keep the metalhead’s interest up throughout the whole record, even gratifying him with an overpowered The Siege that would have been well suited on the formidable Altered Genesis.

On the other hand, the Black Metal elements found in the track The Duellists are rather discomfiting, only showing that Dominance are still looking for their own style. The potential, however, is here and after a full decade with no records released, it would have been a bit daring to think they could come up with a groundbreaking album. If Dominance eventually can find their own personal style and write more solid tracks like The Siege, Unholy Birth or The Sailor, they may be able to rank high together with Italy’s Death Metal leaders Natron, Hour Of Penance and Sadist.

Dominance still achieve the feat to not fit in Death Metal’s two most ‘trendy’ scenes of nowadays: ultra fast and technical Death Metal and raw and minimalist retro Death Metal. They just play good Death Metal, powerful and efficient and they seem to enjoy playing that kind of music. Claiming global domination may just be too early for them, but Deathsters won't care for they definitely should enjoy this act.



This is not my own review. It's merely a translation of BEERGRINDER's review originally written in French and translated into English with his consent. For the original review in French, please go to:http://www.spirit-of-metal.com/album-groupe-Dominance-nom_album-Echoes_of_Human_Decay-l-fr.html