Benedictum Dominion

by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer

Dominion is the third album from US-based traditional metal band Benedictum, one of the most promising bands to emerge in recent years. The band is fronted by a female vocalist (the beautiful and insanely talented Veronica Freeman), but in case you were thinking that makes this some kind of light and airy “opera metal” album, it should take all of a minute of the title track to put that idea to rest.

Benedictum is the antithesis of the kind of female-fronted bands that barely qualify as metal. The band plays full-on traditional heavy metal inspired by Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Dio-era Black Sabbath and Accept, and they do it with the kind of power and style of the better European metal bands like Primal Fear and Brainstorm. Pick your heaviest, most powerful recent album, and Dominion is going to match it in terms of sheer power and metal energy. Much of that has to do with Freeman’s powerful vocals. She’s not another Tarja or even Doro. Freeman’s vocals reflect metal titans like Ronnie James Dio (RIP), Rob Halford and Udo Dirkschneider. The only other female vocalist with this kind of power and aggression that comes to mind is former Chastain belter Leather Leone. Dominion also features guest appearances from Jeff Pilson (Dokken), Craig Goldy (Dio) and Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot).

From the opening monster “Dominion,” through the crushing “Grind It” and “Dark Heart” to the 9-minute epic “Epsilon,” Dominion is an incredibly strong heavy metal album. It has power and melody in equal measure, the guitar work is very impressive, the songs are all well written, and of course the vocals are amazing. The album boasts a pair of interesting bonus tracks, including a cover of Rush’s “Overture/The Temples of Syrinx” from “2112.”

There aren’t a lot of traditional/power/heavy metal bands that can touch what Benedictum is bringing to the table. If you love ass-kicking, fist-pumping, old school heavy metal, you absolutely have to check out Dominion. Accept made it to the top of a lot of “best of 2010” lists with Blood of the Nations. With Dominion, Benedictum has released an album that’s every bit as hard-hitting and impressive. Go ahead and save a place on the “best of 2011” list for this one!

Genre: Heavy Metal

Band:
Veronica Freeman (v)
Pete Wells (g)
Mike Pannone (d)
Chris Shrum (b)
Tony Diaz (k)

Track Listing:

1. Dominion
2. At the Gates
3. Seer
4. Grind It
5. Prodigal Son
6. The Shadowlands
7. Beautiful Pain
8. Dark Heart
9. Bang
10. Loud Silence
11. Epsilon
12. Sanctuary
13. Overture/The Temples of Syrinx

Label: Frontiers

Website: www.benedictum.net

Hardrock Haven rating: 8.5/10