Domination Campaign - A Storm of Steel

Domination Campaign – A Storm of Steel
Release Date: 12th January 2024
Label: Prosthetic Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Old School Death Metal, Death Metal.
FFO: Remains, Werewolves, Obituary, CrisisAct, Benediction.
Review By: Mark Young

As much a companion piece to the 2021 debut Onward to Glory, A Storm of Steel was practically complete as the former was released. Psycroptic’s vocalist has once again tapped bandmate Joe Haley to join him (Jason Peppiatt) into getting this ready for release.

Pounding drums announce Time to Die, and it channels that OSDM influence to deadly effect. If this is the soundtrack to war, it is the sound of an army about to lay waste to what is in front of it. It’s not just full on, opting to ease back when required, but as album openers, it’s a ripper. It is efficient as it is deadly.

The Iron Beast starts with an epic opening that befits its name, once again the drumming is just on point. Going for that trem picking attack, this is fantastic with the whole package built so well. Brutal, dynamic and all its heavy, with a passage around the 3-minute mark that is guaranteed for inducing pit injuries. Winds of Death is formed around a simple riff that is executed so well, but there is more to it than just that. There is this innate understanding of balance here, mixing in tempo changes to great effect. D-Day takes that efficient approach further but keeps it direct and rock solid until they bring in the melody to close it out.

Storm the Lines grinds out a slower riff to gradually tease us into the song proper, it is an exercise in tight, synchronized patterns that are here to snap your neck. Pit of Disease is a finger burning treat of a riff, be it at speed or at that crushing mid-tempo pace that doesn’t reduce how well it hits.

141 Days of Terror is just royal, insistent guitar with a class roar to kick it off, and as I sit and listen to it, it finally hits me who it reminds me of, Cadaver, in how the guitar and drums sit together. It’s fantastic and does its job supremely well, as does Death Landing, which starts at speed with no let up. Riffs that come at you with intent, it is a great end to a great album.

What you find is that each of the songs are excellent, none of them repeat what has been said already, and it is an album that is chock-full of riffs and prime drumming. The fact that they are so tight, they become a single weapon in which to batter you with. And this is what this does to ruthless effect. It is furious and stays furious all the way through, and will not suffer from repeated listens. Check it out!!