Old School Swedish Death Metal, damn it! I didn’t even know how to start this, so let me begin with what many of us have said or will say after finishing this album. Because with Dominion VIII, released on their 20th anniversary, Grave made a powerful return to their glorious old days.
Dominion VIII, Grave’s 8th studio album, is perhaps the most brutal release in their discography since Into the Grave and You’ll Never See. Heavy and crushing riffs, monstrous bass, insanely played powerful drums, Ola Lindgren’s usual guttural brutal vocals, and a dark atmosphere that dominates the entire album.
On top of this foundation, the band built deliciously crafted compositions and amazing tracks.
The album’s sound is so strong and harsh that you might wonder, “Did just three people really play all this music?” There is absolutely no melodicism here. The transitions to heavy parts in a record that can reach very high speeds are flawless. You can even hear occasional thrash riffs and solos.
Speaking of solos, they deserve special mention: some are long, slow, and dark, while others are thrash-influenced, fast, and twisted. Due to its dark riffs, you could even consider Dominion a Death-Doom album because it has truly sinful, heavy, and necro riffs. Riffs that sound like they crawled out of a grave.
Of course, while the guitar growls, Ola master doesn’t neglect to growl himself. His guttural and furious vocal delivery perfectly suits the album’s filthiness, brutality, and darkness. Perhaps this is his best vocal performance since Into the Grave.
On drums, Ronnie Bergerstahl — known from Centinex’s later days — did an outstanding job. A good part of the album’s dark and grim atmosphere is owed to Ronnie’s guttural drumming.
The compositions are very high quality. Although tempos occasionally switch to slower parts, the album mainly features fast-paced playing. The drums in the Death-Doom sections utilize a staggering rhythm, perfectly complementing the heavy death metal riffs.
There is a lot that could be written about this album, but I don’t want to prolong it. To sum it up:
Dominion VIII is a purebred Death Metal album. Unadulterated. It has everything you would expect from Grave, or any Old School Swedish Death Metal band, or more broadly from any Old School Death Metal band — sometimes wildly fast and noisy, sometimes heavy, insanely dark, filled with monstrously strong riffs and sick solos. A very solid album.
It’s never boring, clearly well-crafted, with top-tier production that is high quality but far from shiny.
In short, this album marks Grave’s reclaiming of their dominance over the graveyard.
One of the best Death Metal albums I’ve listened to in recent years.