Domine
Champion Eternal

I came into possession of this CD with considerable delay, perhaps in 2000 or so, despite it being released in 1997. The digipack depicts an Elric of Melniboné (M. Moorcock) overwhelmed by the power of the black sword Stormbringer, while spirits, dragons, and various evil figures appear against the red background.

This presentation seems fitting for the album's content, which, once played, offers a rather raw '80s sound. From the martial intro, it transitions into the powerful "In The Mass Of Chaos," where the driving riffs and cadenced rhythms support the mighty voice of Morby, one of the best Italian metal singers, but not only. The Tuscan singer unleashes truly remarkable power and reaches piercing high notes. The track also showcases some vaguely maiden-esque passages, with a galloping bass and an effective wall of riffs. "The Chronicles Of The Black Sword" appears on the scene with a beautiful epic and engaging melody and a raw chorus that hails the black sword, personally one of my favorite pieces, with its alternation of quiet atmospheres and metal galloping.

Another striking track is "Army Of The Dead," fast and led by the usual Morby, the true star of the album. The closing is entrusted to "The Eternal Champion," an epic and triumphant song, powerful and heartfelt, also capable of acoustic moments.

The other tracks add nothing to the product's outline, which, without fear of contradiction, can be counted among the best debuts of Italian heavy metal ever. As a fan of Domine, I cannot refrain from highlighting how, even with relatively poor production and an overall not very bright sound, "Champion Eternal" stands at quite high levels. Certainly, those looking for something grandiloquent in the style of Rhapsody will not find anything similar here, but this CD is a treasure for all lovers of power/epic. I mean no offense to fans of more well-known bands, but Domine did not receive what they deserved. Look up videos of their concerts online, and then tell me.