Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
The wastelands no longer belong to the teenagers of Generation X, thanks to political mismanagement by all, our structure of society is under threat thanks to the greed of those who not only saw the opportunity to make a fast buck, but to control the world in their image, like some new found God, their will be done by all, and we are to blame for allowing it to happen.
It could be considered too late to rectify, that the service we hold off from performing, the funeral song for our species and planet is nothing more than a Wasteland Requiem, a lament for all that was once held with dear appreciation.
There is though always hope, and in Dominant Chain’s debut E.P., that hope is given extra force, a dynamic of wills and music intelligence that sits proudly amongst Finland’s ever-growing reputation as Europe’s most prolific, and seismic appreciation and contributor of all genres of metal.
Wasteland Requiem is the huge and deeply satisfying release from the symphonic progressive female fronted band, and as the tracks immediately catch the ear, as the technical dexterity pounds the hearts and melts the soul with expertise, an operation of musical address that will have the masses drooling with anticipation, not only for what the band have brought in to the world in the moment, but in every one to come.
Kicking off with the album title track of Wasteland Requiem, and following on with The Moment, Tears Of The Tyrant, Dirt, and the excellent conclusion of Kissed By This Life, Dominant Chain’s Toumas Korkatti, Toni Balk, Jarmo Keränen, Joho Keränen, and the incredible supplier of vocal supremacy, Maja Kettunen, fully immerse themselves into the project with urgent domination, a seemingly unruffled urge to catch up with Time and attack the senses with impunity and with respect.
Wasteland Requiem is an environment of metal charm and ideal creation, it has the stamp of authority, the presence of its equals, and the finesse of an exquisite dream in hand, there is nothing wasted, nothing neglected, just pure dramatic symphony.
Dominant Chain release Wasteland Requiem on September 3rd via Inverse Metal.
Ian D. Hall