Band : Veni Domine

Album title : Tongues

Label : MCM Music

Distributor : Bertus

Release date : 14/09/2007

Release : CD

My personal introduction to this finest of Swedish Christian Doom Metal bands came when Rivel Records sent us their August 2004 released 4 th album IIII – The Album Of Labour in an introduction package (to the label), in early 2005, which made that the review of that album was posted on our website on 20 April of same year.

Back then, I didn't know my way around the Internet information highway as well as these days, and therfore the review came with little info on the band's history, something which I would like to pick up on briefly now: rooted in an earlier act called Glorify , a band with an original line-up comprising of former Disciples guitarist Torbörn Weinesjö , his drumming younger brother Thomas , singer Fredrik Ohlsson , and bass player Anders Olofsson . In, '88 Olofsson was replced by Magnus Thorman , and the band re-named itself to Seventh Seal . A gig at British Christian festival Greenbelt during 1990 resulted in a deal with UK based label Kingsway , but due to more bands being around with the same bandname, the Swedes opted for the more suitable Veni Domine . The band's 1992 debut album came about in a weird way. Originally recorded during '91 in the UK, the band was unsatified with the result, and re-did the whole process in Sweden. The result, issued through Christian label Rex , soon saw itself getting critical acclaim. Changing labels to Thunderload , and with keyboards on the album performed by Mats Lidbrandt , it would take until Dec. 1994 before sophomore album Material Sanctuary would be released. Massacre picking up the release for German distribution allowed the band to further promote the album with a German tour, joining forces Saviour Machine and Soul Cages . The tour showing sufficient interest in the Swedes then prompted the label to re-issue the band's debut during 1997, adding the track "Visions" as bonus. With new members Mattias Cederlund (keyboards) and Gabriel Ingemarson (bass), the band threw their third album Spiritual Wasteland upon mankind in late April 1998.

Time to talk about side-projects. Singer Fredrik Ohlsson would also front Hoax (an act including former Candlemass guitarist Lasse Johansson ), and he was involved with Zoic (together with Johansson and other Candlemass members Mats Björkman on guitar and drummer Janne Lindh ), who issue the well-received 1996 album Total Level Of Destruction .

The band started recording their fourth album (writing sessions for which were begun in '97, prior to Ohlsson 's illness) as early as 2000...when the singer (who'd changed his name to Sjöholm ) becomes ill. Rather than changing the line-up, the band decides to wait things out. Finally, the album is recorded (with additional again keyboards played by Lidbrandt ) and the final mix (finished in 2002) is sent to the label. Continuous delays of the release for several reasons eventually lead to a split between label and band. But then the band finds a refuge with Christian label Rivel , and history comes full-circle.

Well, not completely, of course. In July 2004, Thomas Weinesjö would fall in as drummer for Narnia (then still the main band of Rivel owner Christian Rivel ), due to the fact that that band's regular sticks man was on the road with another band. Both Weinesjö brothers would also be involved in Hero , an alliance with Sons Of Thunder vocalist Michael 'Hero' Hjelte and Björn Sundström . Fredrik Sjöholm & Torbjörn Weinesjö would guest on Christian Rivel 's new project (now become band) DivineFire 's first album Glory Thy Name . On a tragic note, former Veni Domine keyboarder P.A. Danielsson was killed in a car accident in Italy during late November 2004.

After that, the Swedes signed to new German label MCM Music , apparently definitely leaving behind a long period of ups and downs. A first result of their new cooperation came in February 2006, with the release of the band's fifth album 23:59 (regretably however, that album never reached Concrete Web 's office). Comfortable with their existing record deal, and thanks to the fact that Tjorbjörn has his own studio (dubbed Room Of Doom ), the band started on their newest album midway last year, taking their time to finish it in detail. Meanwhile, MCM Music has found out about us, enabling us to review the truely great new album by the band.

The band's actual line-up now confined to the threesome of the Weinesjö brothers and the singer after the departure of the bassist, the band called in sevaral guests on that position. Peter Carlsson (of Jerusalem & The Rise repute) takes the biggest moat out of the musical cake, playing on 3 songs. Andreas Olsson (of Narnia & Rob Rock fame, amongst others) and Ez Gomér ( Jet Circus ) play on two songs each, leaving the two remaining songs to Gary Kuhstoss and Torbjörn Weinesjö himself (he also played the sparce bit of keyboard when needed – I guess the only song that's got some is "Scream" )...and I have to say each person's contribution was not only top-notch, but also comes through loud and clear, thanks to Torbjörn 's wonderful productional capacities. On the band's first three releases, they frequently used Classical elements in their music, even to the point of employing chanting monks for enhanced dramatic effect. During the opening of the lengthy album closing title track those monks reappear, re-enforced by a very nicely falsetto sounding boy, and there there are hoever a couple of moments elsewhere on the album (like during "You Leave Me Cold" ), where classical choirs were used. That album title track is really something else! With a total length of almost 16 ½ minutes, the music is stretched out to the slowest pace on the album (it's also the only songon the album where Black Sabbath can be cited as musical influence, the other tracks all being of a somewhat faster pace, and containing more modern Metal geared guitar work). Nine minutes and a half into the song, the band has the same bit of text spoken in 7 different languages (that it is indeed the same text is a thing I deduce from the French, German and Dutch version, because I can hardly be expected to understand what's being said in Russian, Chinese and the two other "tongues"), the musical accompaniment paced down to the max.

If you were having doubts about a Doom Metal band being able to mix its members' Christian belief into that genre, think again!   Surf to myspace.com/venidomine, and listen to the extracts of the 4 songs (3 off the new album, one off the previous one) posted there...and stop wondering why I'm awarding Tongues with a nomination into that "Best Albums Of 2007"-list of mine!

98/100

Tony.