DOMINUS PRAELII

With half a name that sounds like a tyre manufacturer, it was with some amusement that the title of the first track on this CD was called 'Hard Deadly Wheels'. Conversely, the logo, cover artwork, and band photo gave me shudders as I imagined how breathtaking it was going to be reviewing another power metal album. So, congratulations to Dominus Praelii for proving once again that old proverb about books and covers. Right off the bat, the pace is relentless and exceptionally performed. However, the real selling point for me is that there is a sense of fun about this release. I'm not talking ill-advised comic creations, such as Helloween's ‘Dr Stein’ abomination, but a feeling that the band had a real blast in the studio recording this. The flow of each song feels organic, not forced down a route to a predestined conclusion. What's even more astonishing is that this album shall more than likely feature on my stereo long after this review has attracted dust. And I can't say that about too many albums I've received this year. Best track? It has to be 'Cold Winds' with its suitably eerie introduction and magnificent mid-paced verse/chorus. Almost military in execution, it only presses the accelerator for a concise mid-song scramble. Suitably epic. As a 'bonus', we get some early demos tagged on the end of the album. I'm not a mammoth fan of this as the quality is, naturally, worse, which affects the feel of the album. You could of course elect to end the CD before they commence and, aside from curiosity on your first listen, I suggest you do exactly that. Still, if you're into epic speed/power metal, you will find plenty to love in this album. If like me you have a very casual, and often rocky, relationship with this style of music, you will still find a vast amount of enjoyment from Dominus Praelii. I truly look forward to hearing more from this band. You should too.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Metal Fighters

Album

HOLDING THE FLAG OF WAR

Review by Steve Cowan

RUNNING TIME:

68:33

RELEASE DATE:

2007

TRACK LISTING

1) Hard Deadly Wheels
2) Scent Of Death
3) Khan’s Warriors
4) Khan’s Legacy
5) Cold Winds
6) Knight of the Silver Moon
7) Saga of Killing Riders
8) Hall of Power
9) Waves of War; 10) Intro
11) Waves of War (demo version)
12) Khan’s Warriors (demo version)
13) Mighty Odin (demo version - live)

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Brazil

"The flow of each song feels organic, not forced down a route to a predestined conclusion."