Fourth Dominion : "Diana's Day"

 

The first song from this New York-based band's sophomore album feels like a cross between AFI and older REM. This equates to an organic jangle along a more 90s-influenced goth rock. There is more rock influence on the second song. Lyrically there is a great deal of occult metaphor. The production works for what they are going for here as it gives this more of a rock edge. The bass rumbles harder on the more palm-muted groove of "Burn the Prisons". The vocal melodies here are what keep it anchored into the early alt sound of the late 80s.  

"From Below" feels like it marries grunge with old-school British metal. The vocals keep doing what they do which is offer plaintive yet downtrodden melodies. I like the groove this one stumbles upon. It does not feel as contrived as other bands doing this sort of thing have fallen into. Energy-wise it reminds me of Metallica's "Motorbreath". For a goth-tinged band, they are pretty upbeat, almost to a pop-punk degree. Unlike most punk or thrash this does not feel rushed. Most of the melancholy hang out around the bridge. 

"Hill of Swords" gallops into more of the classic metal realm. It builds into a more punk pacing. The vocals do not hook in like the previous songs on this album. As it unfolds it feels a little less focused, though the elements that worked on the other songs are still in play, making it a little more of a mystery what it factor is it missing and the hooks are the only answer. The way the guitar solos come into play makes me think of the Devil's Blood, and truth be told In Solitude is another band comparisons could be drawn to. "Death in Fall" splits the difference between what works and what does not, though edging out the previous song in terms of hooks.  The chorus is subtle but clicks into place well. 

The tone shifts on "Tormentia Purgatoria". It has a more casual Western strum to it. It gives the song plenty of room to breathe, Some of the phrasing brings the Cranberries to mind. This album has some very tasteful guitar playing. The acoustic guitar tones remain going into "Her Wings". The more retro occult rock-sounding guitar takes the song off in another direction. There are dark chord progressions, but that is not where the overall emphasis is placed. Not the album's strongest chorus but works for what it is. "Casca Dreaming{" is another strummed emo ballad that works off a moody tension. It's more of a gray cloud than what we here think of as dark, but that works well enough. I will give this album a 9.5, it's fun for what it is, not the most original thing but they bring in such varied influences it works like a sonic fruit salad, and that has nothing to do with the supposed gender dysphoric issues that are supposed to be the underlying issues lurking under the surface, as I do not hear that, the overall tone seems not unlike any of the late 90s angst. 

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