Distant Dominion - Ripping Through Time

Distant Dominion is a new extreme metal band that hits hard and fast with their blazing debut album, “Ripping Through Time.”  The band might be new but its members have years of experience in such bands as Krieg, Rumpelstiltskin Grinder, Polterchrist, Mortal Decay and others.

But “Ripping Through Time,” isn’t just another run-of-the-mill extreme metal experience.  I have discovered this album is a well-crafted death machine that offers a lot more variety than the average extreme metal album.  It has just enough of a technical flair to add a flashy pedigree to the void it so viciously spits out.  It’s fast like thrash but wrapped up in a death metal extremity and the destitute, raw atmosphere of the bleakest black metal.   As if that wasn’t enough, there is clearly an influence from classic metal and a firm grasp on incorporating melody within these charred walls of chaos.

The album is mastered by Dan Swanö, so of course it sounds absolutely amazing.  It’s clear enough for all its little details to shine through yet it still retains a razor sharp, violent edge of potency and decay.

The opening song alone, “Alchemystic,” was enough to convince me of the album’s potential and it will convince you too, no doubt.  It begins with raging thrash, the band providing a griping and ear grabbing performance right out of the gate.  But t hen it flows into intricate riffs, impressive bass, and chaotic yet focused drums—at this point, I understood this wasn’t just going to be an extreme album that goes fast as fuck from point A to B without much to say.  Instead, it goes fast as fuck from point A to B with A LOT to say.  Check out this song's halfway point: it’s melodic, catchy, and even a little atmospheric.  Then as quick as it arrived, it’s gone, and replaced with ultra precise riffs and flesh ripping vocals. 

The title song drops doom style riffs, slowing and suffocating.  The bass pops out very well, riding up against the guitar but still standing out in its own way.  The drums go a long way on this album, offering just the right amount of mood for whatever the song calls for.  Suddenly, this song calls for searing speed and delivers it tenfold.  Those traditional metal elements I spoke of earlier rear their head at the song’s halfway point with a surprisingly catchy vocal melody, melodic bass, and old school drums with modern double bass.  And the guitar solo that arrives afterwards?  It would fit at home any number of classic sounds from the 80’s and early 90’s but still firmly fits into the band’s sound. 

The classic metal assault continues with “The Witches Ritual” and its wonderfully executed riffs which grasp the understanding between the balance that often exists between heavy and melodic. Force works but so does steering it every so slightly.  The drums and vocals layer the song with extremity while the bass helps build the song up for the kick ass guitar solo.  The song ends with the riffs from the beginning, capping off the whole thing nicely.

The final song, “No Way Out,” is one of my favorites on the album and an excellent ending to an excellent album.  The flurry of drums builds up the energy, allowing the song to feed off the energy as it ramps up to a thrash fest.  But it isn’t all about speed–that would be boring and this album is anything but that.  A fresh groove and stunning bass highlight the blitzkrieg approach.  It all builds up to an impressive solo and a melodic ending that fades off into clean tones.

Distant Dominion’s “Ripping Through Time,” is an extreme metal album that isn’t afraid to step outside the box.  Its songs provide ample destructive force while grasping onto ideas that they seamlessly integrate and execute with fervent wrath.