Band : Benedictum
Album title : Dominion
Label : Frontiers Records
Distributor : Rough Trade Benelux
Release Date : 18/02/2011
Release : CD

‘Dominion’ is the third album Benedictum unleashes on the world.  Not being familiar with the previous releases by this US band I was at first a bit shocked upon hearing this band.  But after a few spins I really started liking this band.  Whereas at first I didn’t really like the vocals, after a while it dawned on me how special they were.   Gone are the female fronted gothic bands, instead this is pure, raw heavy metal.

Besides the vocals by Veronica Freeman, the fantastic guitar work by Pete Wells should also be noted.  As a matter of fact I’m a wee bit surprised that Frontiers brings out this kind of album,
As a matter of fact Ms. Freeman reminds me a bit of Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane).
Where on their previous album ‘Seasons Of Tragedy’ they covered the classic Accept song ‘Balls to the wall’, on this album they’ve opted to cover a Rush song ‘Overture/The Temple Of Syrinx’.  Not many bands have had the balls to cover Rush, but these guys (and girl) even get away with it.

Only two months into 2011 and once again the list of contenders for best 2011 release swells with one album.

90/100

Erik Morren.