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Malevolent Creation has existed for over twenty years at this point, and over the course of their career, have released a good number of full-lengths, as well as compilation release. For the most part, the band's material has received much acclaims from both fans and critics, but some releases, such as the infamous Joe Black EP, were met with mixed emotions, or pure disgust. Invidious Dominion makes for the follow-up release of Doomsday X, an album that wasn't quite as well received as you would expect, mostly due to Malevolent Creation continuing from where they stood at that moment, except with Brett Hoffman returning. Invidious Dominion finds the same kind of bickering in the background, as it proves to be a solid release, but also just your typical Death Metal release from Malevolent Creation. While not by any wild stretch is this a bad release, it's just that it's something features well done Death Metal, but offers nothing too new or original to the mix. Sure, Malevolent Creation have been going strong for over twenty years, but it's the fact that these songs just feel like standard Death Metal, regardless of what band is playing it. Much of the music is played at a fast pace without much of a technical spin to the music, which is fine and good, leading to some really catchy, yet punishing Death Metal tracks such as "Slaughterhouse" and "Compulsive Face Breaker". The problem here is that the description just now sums up plenty of the songs on here. While those two tracks really stand out on the album, and "Slaughterhouse" features some changes in the music, slowing down for the chorus and offering a little variety, the album itself seems to be rather repetitive as far as the songs go, but mostly in the performance and execution end of things. The performance on Invidious Dominion is obviously energetic, and comes off very strong due to it. Had this energy not been put into the music during the recording, chances are good this album wouldn't be as enjoyable as it really is. The guitars are played at a very fast pace without much complexity, yes, and it does ring true for every song, but the chords themselves are usually just different enough that the songs do sound different, but still leave you feeling like you heard it already on this album. "Lead Spitter", for example, features fast paced music, but slows down considerably for the chorus, which is what happens during the "Slaughterhouse", and chances are good when the chorus drops in, your brain will immediately have you spouting out the catchy chorus of that song instead of "Lead Spitter". Yet, the faster paced guitars, and even the vocals, are very reminiscent of "Compulsive Face Breaker", as well as "United Hate" and many other tracks on this full-length. Of course, this doesn't mean that Invidious Dominion is something that should be passed up. Infact, the album still packs a great kick to it. The music is about what you would expect from Malevolent Creation, blending forceful vocals that are a rhaspier, back of the throat approach to gutterals, though sometimes sound like a harsh shouting, like on some moments of "Target Rich Environment". These vocals work well with the hard hitting Death Metal that is being played by the band, typically featuring a lot of the same note being played at a furious pace, only changing chords here and there through the song, carrying a nice earlier Death Metal sound to them. All the tracks on here carry a brutal atmosphere to them, such as "Antagonized", one of the heavier songs on the release, as well as "Conflict Finalized", "Lead Spitter", and plenty more excellent tracks. However, the ones that slow the pace of the music down for any period of time really stand out on the mix, as they don't necessarily carry a lot of similarities between other tracks on the release, as well as give off an accompanying dismal feeling to the atmosphere of the album. The only track on Invidious Dominion that isn't enjoyable is the "Intro" track. Sadly, this track doesn't do anything for the album. This song acts as a very slow introductory build up to the opening of "United Hate", utilizing sounds to make it seems that everything that is building up in volume is over a war scene. While this may sound fitting for an introduction track that is just a little more then thirty seconds, it winds up being an absolute waste of time since the start of "United Hate" works perfectly for the album, hammering in thanks to some fast paced snares chiming in the second the song starts, quickly accompanied by the rest of the best. Sure, an introduction song would have worked, but something with a little more depth or complexity would have worked instead of just the volume being raised, and not even to the proper level before the drumming kick in. While it's not the most impressive Malevolent Creation album in the line-up, it's full of solid Death Metal tracks from the first actual song, until the end. Though there is a good deal of repetition throughout the album as far as how the songs are performed, as well as the general composition and way the band plays the music, there are a few tracks that offer some variances to the band's pattern of playing. Invidious Dominion carries a generally heavy and brutal atmosphere to the music, and it is matched nicely with the frantic guitar work and pounding drums, as well as the commanding vocals. Of course, a little more complexity here and there wouldn't have hurt this album, but given it's simpler nature, and the many throw backs to earlier Death Metal bands, as well as their own line-up, strewn about in the way the guitars and drums are played, there's no denying that this album makes for a solid follow-up from this legendary act. |
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