Okay, as a music critic writing in 1995, I'm obligated to notify you that this is operatic, classic power metal. Having said that, these guys are performing a style that's not currently riding the crest of the latest trend, let me say that these guys perform their art with excellence.
The sonics and emotions here are pristine and dramatic. Veni Domine eases through mood changes with a relaxed ease that keeps the songs flowing -- even though most are long in length.
While writing lyrics that stay true to the gothic metal tradition, they are intelligent and real: "Then I felt the presence of Someone so close/ He spoke to me in languages I never heard before/ looked at me with eyes/ that were healing my wounded soul." ("The Meeting") The heavy power chords performed here will remind you why you started headbanging in the first place. This would be a good one to listen to with headphones -- with swirling gothic choir vocals and atmospheric guitar layerings moving about in harmony with the rhythm. You could say Veni Domine is a "full" metal band.
Fans of Dream Theater and all those who thought power metal was dead will rejoice at the power and melodic sense of a band that does it right -- Veni Domine. (I just hope you can find in here in the U.S. I've held off reviewing this to avoid causing frustration in trying to obtain it.)
Other coverage for this album
Critical Mass #0Reviewed by Tom EdmondsonRapturous metallic rhapsodies. Just look up the word "rhapsody" in your dictionary and you'll find a definition that comes as close as anything to describing this incredibly polished band from Sweden. If you've heard their first album, Fall Babylon Fall, you know just how incredible this band is. Here are a few descriptive words that occur to me as I listen: Melodic, beautiful, intelligent,…Similar sounding releases
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