• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

An intriguing two-piece band comprising members of the technical death metal band Psycroptic, Domination Campaign play a different brand of death metal. A Storm of Steel is the second full-length effort from the duo, following 2021's debut, Onwards to Glory, so it is now established that this is more than a one-off side project, and the content here also takes itself quite seriously as well.

Domination Campaign play a stripped-down, chuggingly heavy style of death metal here on A Storm of Steel, which presents great contrast with their other band Psycroptic. The overall sound reminds me of Bolt Thrower and sometimes Jungle Rot, but mostly Bolt Thrower. Vocally, this comparison could not be sustained, as vocalist/guitarist/bassist Jason Peppiatt has a more gravelly and higher-pitched sound than Karl Willetts. Admittedly, Jason's vocal approach here did not work for me on the first run of the album. After more listens, it grew on me substantially and became one of the more memorable elements. The drumming on this record is full of subtle nuances, showcasing heightened musical focus that elevates the music greatly. The non-cluttered instrumentation allows the drumming to enhance the direction and focus of the songs, which is a wonderful balance to strike. Really, every element on A Storm of Steel is executed at a high level, and the sound is excellent.

What holds A Storm of Steel back from being one that I will likely return to for multiple listens throughout the year may simply be that it does not have many surprises or standout elements. Within its length, despite having listened through the album more than fourteen times, there are only a couple of moments that stand out in my memory, suggesting that the songwriting could have more peaks and twists. There is no doubt I will keep an eye out for a future release from Domination Campaign, as this is a promising release in which everything is going right while leaving plenty of room for exploration in future material.