DOMINUM – The Dead Don't Die

vote
7.0

• Bands:
  DOMINUM
• Duration: 00:37:09
• Available from: 12/27/2024
• Label:

• Napalm Records

Streaming not yet available

Exactly one year ago, Dominum entered the record market with a surprising debut entitled “Hey Living People”: nothing sensational, of course, but not everyone – particularly in recent times – comes out of nowhere making themselves recognized thanks to a captivating sound and to songs with a shot not to be underestimated.
With “The Dead Don't Die” the German group tries to repeat itself, and in fact we don't find any big changes compared to the debut, except that the surprise effect is missing which is also the main reason why the judgment final on this new chapter is slightly lower than the debut.
We are talking about a modern power metal that is strongly influenced by Amaranthe, Powerwolf, Battle Beast and – also for the horror themes addressed – Lordi, built on eleven pieces with a short duration (always between three and four minutes), exhilarating choruses Powerwolf and biting arrangements more of the Amaranthe house.
A work that therefore stands on limited instrumental parts, captivating melodies and a bombastic sound that owes a lot to the work in the production phase by Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Arch Enemy, Evergrey).
For some, Dominum's music might seem banal and obvious, but one cannot fail to recognize the Teutonic quartet's ability to create pieces full of energy and adrenaline, building a carefree and fun tracklist: particularly successful compositions such as the crackling “One” can demonstrate this. Of Us”, which exalts itself with a sing-along chorus, and the bombastic title track. But we must admit that, thanks to the folk atmospheres of “Killed By Life” and the modern pop impact of “Don't Get Bitten By The Wrong Ones”, listening is anything but linear, boring and predictable, as you might think, but rather it shows more than a fair amount of variety.
The lively and brilliant “The Guardians Of The Night”, placed almost at the end, could be the manifesto of the album, thanks to its unstoppable charge which, combined with catchy vocal lines, strikes traveling at medium rhythms. Finally, noteworthy is the cover of the historic hit “Rock You Like A Hurricane” by Scorpions, revised in a personal key but with a bombastic and modern impact that we appreciated.
“The Dead Don't Die” is an easy, carefree and certainly energetic listen: a record that, properly packaged, could make a good impression even under the Christmas tree.