When my numerical compadre Twelve, from whom I accidentally assumed reviewing rights, covered Domination Campaign’s debut, Onward to Glory, he diagnosed it as straightforward, old school death metal, with few embellishments and for which “melody is a co-pilot-in-training.” According to the promo sheet at least, the co-pilot now has its wings, as A Storm of Steel is a “more melodic affair featuring guitar harmonies (and even a [apparently singular] guitar solo).” This diagnosis only goes so far. Domination Campaign remains a blunt instrument of old school war, trying to make its mark on a modern battlefield. Meaty death metal riffs accompanied by thick, thudding bass lines are the battle plan here, a very different approach from the tech death of the members’ main gig, Psycroptic. Drummer Joe Haley (who handles guitars for Psycroptic) lays down withering, artillery-like percussion, over which rise Jason Peppiatt’s distinctive roars. Peppiatt is also responsible for guitar and bass on A Storm of Steel, and, while it’s true that there is more melody on this record than on Domination Campaign’s debut, that is a very relative statement.
The majority of the album channels the likes of Bolt Thrower and does so well, with opener “Time to Die” and “Storm the Lines” both ticking that box to good effect, albeit without much originality. There is nothing to object to on A Storm of Steel (other than the lyrics) but there is also little to get very excited about for the first 25 or so minutes. Everything is well done but predictable and familiar. However, the last two tracks, “141 Days of Terror” and “Death Landing,” both show that Domination Campaign are capable of writing some bangers. After a ponderous opening, the former ups the tempo and lets rip with a big, churning riff that propels the track forward with a rapacious energy that’s not found on the earlier parts of the album. Peppiatt also mixes up his vocals, dropping the gravelly roars in favor of a hoarse bark and, while I wouldn’t want a full album in that style, the variation is welcome. Star of the show, though, is closer “Death Landing,” which sees Domination Campaign getting closest to Psycroptic territory and also features the singular solo advertised in the promo blurb, which, to be fair, is killer.
There is very little about the execution of A Storm of Steel to criticize. Both members of Domination Campaign handle their instruments well (as you’d expect from members of Psycroptic), with solid guitar work from Peppiatt, while Haley again shows himself to be more than competent behind the kit. He also took on mixing and mastering duties once more, and there is nothing to complain about on this front either, with everything balanced and a nice rich tone on the guitars. The album is also consistent, with no weak tracks and two very good ones. These two also close the album, which is preferable (in my view, at least) to opening a record with the strongest material, only for everything thereafter to be a slight disappointment. The lyrics I have covered and will say no more about.
There is no doubt that Domination Campaign are great musicians and they have proved over two—admittedly short—albums (this one clocks in at only 34 minutes) that they can reliably write solid, old school death metal. On A Storm of Steel, they have also demonstrated that they are capable of writing significantly better material (“141 Days of Terror” and “Death Landing”). This is both promising for future records and frustrating for the current one, as it highlights what this album could have been, had Peppiatt (who appears to be the principal songwriter) taken a few more risks.
Rating: 2.5/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Prosthetic Records
Websites: dominationcampaign.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/dominationcampaign
Releases Worldwide: January 12th, 2024
