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Rating: Released in 1995 (Earache), "Domination" marks the last studio album where the absolute greatness of that infernal individual, named David Vincent, could be witnessed.
The frontman of the "soft" angels ;-) offers fans his last great performance before leaving (or rather being kicked out of) the band, through this album, which we might consider a transition.
The contents, in fact, differ from any other album by the angels, both in themes, sounds, and rhythms.
A transition that a few years later would lead the Tampa combo to create their successors “Formulas Fatal to the Flesh” and “Gateways to Annihilation,” signs of a clear transformation for one of the pioneer bands of early death metal.
Mostly based on the themes of Sumerian mythology (complete with phrases sung in the ancient language), "Domination" is a mix of blasphemous and catastrophic atmospheres, set on slow and sick marches that good production (finally!) makes even more enjoyable.
This creates a damnably funereal environment, supported by the terrifying skill of the trio. And it matters little if the vampire Azagthoth, the generative mind of the legendary and unbelieving verb that the morbid angel professes, no longer churns out with primitive abundance the wicked riffs that made the early albums the precursors of such a vast genre. It is he who, along with the human metronome Sandoval and Vincent's demonic belch, gives shape and substance to tortuous and claustrophobic mid-tempo pieces and visceral riffs. The dark progression of the tracks serves as a backdrop to the inhuman advance of Dave's voice, supported by Pete's timing of the evil rhythms, an excellent companion even in the inconsistent moments of furious sonic restarts.
The suffocated voice, since time immemorial an ominous messenger of curses against religious hypocrisy and Christians, accompanies the album through those melodies born from the darkest part of the minds of three decadent and morbid personalities.
The bloodthirsty demeanor of “Dominate,” the impiety of “Hatework,” the morbidity of “Dawn of the Angry,” and the gem “Where the Slime Live” are the best tracks of “Domination,” the fourth chapter of the band that managed to create, by tempering the blind titanism of death, the unparalleled sound that consecrated them as the first reformers of the genre.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Dominate (02:40)
Weak aside - no place for those our struggle
Leaves behind
Our Lord won't tolerate those whom through
Attrition fall
We must dominate!
With iron through our veins and a will made so elite
Hunting for our daily bread and the sinister close in sight
Hunger always drives the beast and the women fall prey.
Leading all the wonders to certain fate
Another victim reviled
I'm staring at you through the eyes of the wolf
Tell me who is going to save you now!
Animal senses ever alert
Praise be to the father-war
As a servant I am serving myself and I bathe in anticipation
Unless you taste it you could never know
All the power our Lord bestows
With a bow and a kiss profane
Be a victor or be a victim.
02 Where the Slime Live (05:26)
Where the slime live
(They are the lowest forms of life)
Where the slime breed
(They make a new one too corrupted)
When the wind blows
(The winds of truth are blowing now)
And the cradle falls....down
Their poison fingers that wrote the poison lines
Their poison lingers
What a tragedy when their fingers are removed
Where the slime live
Their burning dogma
Introducing to our mind - lies
They plot for the total control of the morals
And what a tragedy when the "god-heads" are removed.
They crawl, they breed, they hide but we see
They burn
I see the smoke of the funerals rising
God lives in thier heads now laid to rest
What a sight
As their kingdom comes tumbling down
We burn - the ones with contrite souls be gone!
Long gone are the filthy liars
Long gone are their filthy lies
I know they'll come again some day
Where the slime live and how the slime gets washed away
08 Caesar's Palace (06:20)
Just close your eyes... can you remember
The generations not so long ago
I feel the shameless urge that we must restore
Our former king to his rightful throne
And with me lords and maidens
We wait for the chosen son's return
I come alive
It's a time for celebration
Our will to restore
Make our past become the future once more
Still he lives! 2000 years have passed
And still we're yearning for his return
We fulfill a wishful prophecy
And so the chanting begins:
Hail Caesar... Hail Caesar... we render unto you
What is still yours
Share the wish as it must be
Our king and palace... mode it be!
Gods enslaved, traitors burning
Might and splendor forever return
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