Domain The Chronicles of Love, Hate and Sorrow
by Franco Wissa
Staff Writer
The masters of melodic metal are back with their newest offering, The Chronicles of Love, Hate and Sorrow. A “concept” album if you will from the 1774 novel Die Leiden Des Jungen Werther, (The Sorrows of Young Werther,) writen by the German poet Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe. The novel, such as it is, is a collection of letters written by the sensitive lad Werther to his friend Wilhem. A horribly tragic collection of letters, they tell the the account of a young man, Werther, who has fallen for a young lady, Charlotte, who, after the death of her mother has been left in charge of her young brothers and sisters. Charlotte, unfortunately is in love with an older man, Albert. Even despite his best efforts to make friends with both Albert and Charlotte, his love is not returned and Werther returns to his native village, and goes through an extremely difficult time. Time passes and he learns that Albert and Charlotte are now married, but even so, he continues to visit this newly married couple. Out of respect for her husband, Charlotte requests that Werther no longer come to their home. Beside himself with grief and tormment Werther decides that one of them must die. Not able to hurt anyone else, he writes to Albert asking for him to mail his two pistols under the pretense he is going on a journey. After recieiving the pistols the heartbroken Werther shoots himself in the head and dies a short time later, he is then buried under a tree. Almost as a final blow to the fallen Werther, his funeral was not attended by any member of a clergy, or his beloved Charlotte or her husband Albert.
Domain, previously known as Kingdom, can be traced back to 1970 when Axel Ritt (gutiars) Bernie Kolbe (vocals,) and Cliff Jackson (guitars) were together in a band known as Fagau’s Epitaph (later shortened to Epitaph) a rock band sounding much like Uriah Heep. After the 1982 breakup of Epitaph, Ritt, Kolbe and Jackson came together again as Kingdom and then changed their name to Domain to avoid confusion with the 1980’s hard rockers Kingdom Come. Since then the band has had a revolving door of personnel but undetered by this, has excellently brought to the listening public one outstanding body of work (especially 2002’s The Artefact, 2005’s superb The Essence of Glory, and the awesome, jaw dropping guitar work heard on 2006’s Stardown.)
“Concept” albums are difficult to sing, much less put to music. When singing of unrequited love, depair, grief, embarrasment and death (like is sung about in each of these 10 tracks,) the musicians must use not only the lyrics, but also the instruments to be able to tell the “story.” At this level, Domain excells. With a perfect mix of progressive, metal and symphonic The Chronicles of Love, Hate and Sorrow Domain shows that the change in personnel aside, here is band that has matured in their sound. The vocal style of Nicolaj Ruhnow is a soulful deep singer that truly has an impressive range. His voice is one that would do wonders on the Broadway stage. And without question, Chronicles of Love, Hate and Sorrow is a showcase for long time guitarist Axel Ritt. His use of the fretwork shows time and again that he can be placed among today’s best, as he bliters his way from one solo to another. He at times goes so fast, that one has to wonder how his guitar itself can keep up with such a molten attack on its frame. From the opening, kick in the balls blistering guitar intro of “Picture the Beauty,” to the awe-inspring solo heard on “He’s Back,” his work is staggering. Mixed with this is the double bass drums of “Sweeping Scars,” (although drummer Stehan Kollner, throughout he shows that his drumming seems to be from planets beyond.”) The delicious keyboards of “He’s Back,” and the vocal range of Ruhnow really comes to light on track 4, “Circle of Give and Take.” The metal epic “Digging Their Graves,” and the sounds of “Haunting Sorrows,” will leave you amazed and the final track “12 O’Clock,” with its acoustic guitars, gorgeous piano and hushed vocals tells of “….a final decision, I want to die…one of us has to go….and this part should be mine…these are my final words…” is so pefectly done that the only thing the listener can concentrate on is the story being layed out. “12 O’Clock” leaves you transfixed. The one downfall as it were, is that it would have been nice to bring the bass guitar more to the forefront.
Part Vanden Plas, part Firewind, Domain’s latest is amazing. Guitar work that is extrodinary, vocals that are stunning and keyboards and drums that are out of this world. This is truly one of Domain’s best work.
Musicians:
Axel Ritt – guitars, backing vocals
Nicolaj Ruhnow – lead vocals
Erdmann Lange – keyboards, backing vocals
Steven Wussow – bass, backing vocals
Jenns Baar – drums
Label: Limb Music
Track listing
Picture the Beauty
Sweep Scars
Angel Above
Circle of Give and Take
He’s Back
My Inner Rage
Digging Their Graves
Haunting Sorrows
The Last Dance
12 O’ Clock
HRH Rating
8.5/10