Fornicus - Hymns Of Domination

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The past of Death/Black Metal is really something that can cause deep passion for many Metalheads. But if you’re truly thinking of creating a band from the style, have in mind that SARCOFAGO, BLASPHEMY, GRANDE BELIAL’S KEY and MYSTIFIER already exists, so you’ll have to deal with it in some way to be different from them. There’s no sense in making again and again what they have done, especially today, when some of them are still active. The North American trio FORNICUS seems to have this conscience, because they show great musical potential on “Hymns of Dominion”.

They will remind you of some names of the past, because they have an Old School insight, being raw, nasty and as aggressive as they can, having as inspirations some of the names I mentioned above, and even that Black/Death/Thrash that you can find or earlier works from SODOM. Even with the album being filled with musical clichés of the style, the band shows personality that still needs to be cultivated and evolve more, but they are on the right path. The sound quality is very good for the style. Bear in mind that a sound production must fit in what the band musically does, and not the opposite. The sound quality here is truly raw and morbid, because they don’t play at the speed of the light, but have some slow moments, and both must be heavy and aggressive. It was done in a good way, although it could be done better.

Nasty, brutal and distorted as Hell, “Hymns of Dominion” is a very good album, and these insane guys make very good songs. Their finest desecrations: the raw energy of “Duodecad Aflame” and “Feast for Rats” (both with catchy guitars, with simple and efficient riffs), the nightmare made music called “Searing the Scourge of Christendom” (The contrasts between slow and fast parts is very good, and these ghastly vocals fits perfectly, with snarls and screams), the climatic and darkened atmosphere of “Martyrs (Destroyers of Divinity)” and “Hordes of the Abyss” (both are excellent, and again, a simple and efficient work, but due bass guitar and drums, where nasty and funereal melodies arising on guitars), and the aggressive and brutal insight used on “Woeful Oppressor” and “Kill Yourselves, Kill Each Other”.

I believe that they can do better than we can hear on “Hymns of Dominion”, but FORNICUS is on the right path. Listen to it and blow your ears out!

Originality: 7
Songwriting: 9
Memorability: 7
Production: 8