Dominum – The Night Is Calling
Dominum – The Night Is Calling
Napalm Records
Release Date: 03/07/26
Review by Beth Morait
9/10
I love a bit of dark theatrical indulgence, and I love a bit of Modern Metal, and luckily, those two components are what German band Dominum are all about! Their take on the genre is rooted in the horror of the undead, with more zombies than you can shake a makeshift stake at, and some damn fine riffs to boot. After hitting the German top 10 with their previous release, Dominum return with their third full-length, “The Night Is Calling”, and it’s full of variety, including a ballsy cover of one of the most widely-known tracks ever recorded.
Opening with ‘The Circus Is In Town’, we’re instantly propelled into a fast-paced, catchy mix of Hard Rock, Modern Metal, and an almost Pop-like bounce. But there’s enough heaviness and enough edge, provided by Frontman Dr Dead’s vocals, to keep things metal. It’s a great cinematic opener with a massive breakdown in the middle that showcases the band’s heavier side. It kind of makes me think of a slightly more unhinged version of Black Veil Brides, whose target market isn’t emo kids.
‘Doctor Doctor’ continues the pace, but this is more like listening to some Classic Heavy Rock, with great harmonies and a real sing-along chorus. You can see plainly how this sound, coupled with theatrical staging, would really delight audiences. This leads into ‘Children Of The Night’ which pushes further into the theatrical, with choirs, orchestration, and expansive sounds that create a Lordi-esque atmosphere perfect for a Halloween party.
There’s a comforting familiarity in Dominum’s sound. The whole thing feels like they’re not just producing tight, well-written, interesting music, but that they’re having a hell of a lot of fun creating an entire experience, where the music is only one component. I can imagine that their live performances are awesome, because the fun and theatrics are expertly delivered within the music as well as outside of it, meaning that, even when you only have audio, you can paint magnificent pictures in your mind to accompany the music.
It’s not all fast-paced zombie tomfoolery, though. There are some ballads on this record. ‘Dark Melodies’ is the first, and it’s here where we really get to appreciate the versatility of Dr Dead’s vocals, as he switches from rough, almost whispered harsh vocals, to cleans that sound like he’s auditioning for the male lead in a Disney movie.
So, what’s the most ballsy cover you could take on as a zombie-horror-themed Metal band? Obviously, the MJ classic ‘Thriller’, and that’s exactly what Dominum have done! I’m not a huge fan of covers, especially when the artist pisses about too much with the original arrangement to try to make it new/ current/ edgy (delete as applicable). But I’ll let them off with this one, as they’ve done a good job of it – it’s essentially the same as the original, just heavier. It works, and it fits perfectly on the album.
After a couple more Lordi-like, Euro Metal bangers that you can’t help bopping along to, the album closes with two acoustic songs, ‘Don’t Get Bitten By The Wrong Ones’ and ‘Hey Living People’. This is in total contrast to the rest of the album, but they really work. Kind of a ‘calm after the storm’ vibe, that you can imagine working well around a campfire in the woods somewhere, being performed to chill the group out after narrowly avoiding a zombie attack. The former of these tracks would be a perfect addition to the soundtrack for “28 Years Later” as the closing credits are rolling! Both are orchestrated with acoustic guitar and vocals only, and they again give you a great opportunity to appreciate both.
A very satisfying album for those who like their Metal with a healthy dose of theatre.
TRACKLISTING:
01. The Circus is in Town
02. Doctor Doctor
03. Children Of The Night
04. Nosferatu
05. Dark Melodies
06. Night is Calling (feat. Battle Beast)
07. Jack The Ripper
08. Thriller (Michael Jackson Cover)
09. Devil’s Son
10. I Don’t Drink Wine
11. Endzeit
12. Don’t Get Bitten By The Wrong Ones (Acoustic)
13. Hey Living People (Acoustic)
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Beth Moriat and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
