Dome Runner : "World Panopticon"

 This is the Finnish band's second album. It finds Dome Runner retaining a big, apocalyptic sound, though, defaulting to a production style that feels like an attempt to merge 90s sounds with modern digital audio workstation-style mixing. The guitar might be thicker if this were not the case. There is a Voivod-like undercurrent mixed with death metal, thanks to the vocals that go from more of a howl to a growl. I would have loved this as a teenager, as a jaded adult who listens to 600 metal albums a year, I am hesitant to give early praise, as I want to hear how this plays out, so let's take a deeper listen. There is more of a mammoth Godflesh stomp to the end of the first actual song; the first track is just an intro. 

Death Metal feels like the core of "Constant Crisis Diagnosis." The fast pounding proves like effective than what they do on the first song. "Android Hybrids Immortal" does this more frantically and chaotically, though finding its groove midway through. There is a Fear Factory-like sung vocal that comes in. I think more melodic touches would help the overall dynamics of the album. "Split Self Matrix" carries a deliberate stomp that is more effective. The vocals are more shouted out into the depths of a cyber dystopia than growled. "Possessed Empty Vessel" finds a return of the harsher growls and clanging of machines devouring the guitars in the mix. This finds them displaying more of a Godflesh feel, and the atmospheric touches are a subtle dynamic that works. 

The futuristic ambiance continues on "Christless," which employs more of an electronic feel with the drums. After a minute, it kicks in with a more Ministry-like angst. The sung vocals on the chorus might be a page out of Fear Factory and thus by default Killing Joke's playbook, but it works well. The seven-minute songs feel like sprawling dirges in industrial time. The heavy foot steps walking "Reversal Blaze" is not unlik Godflesh's heavier moments. I like the contrasting vocal colors on this one. The song pounds into a drone. "Solid State Zero" is aggressive but comes across as noisy at times. I prefer the more grooving 'Frail Demise." Even with its heavy guitar that sits in the back of the mix, it flows well. This balances things out for the bark of the Pantera-like vocals. Though these also make it feel likea long lost song from the 90s. When given more space, the vocals have room for their Burton C Bell croon. 

The weirdness of "Soul Collapse Interace" would normally be my thing, but it feels more disjointed here. 'Salvation Access' carries a stark industrial tension that sounds pretty legit. The drums make things feel more raw and live.  I think a little better production value would have helped sell this one. I appreciate the varied vocal colors, but they would be put to better use with more effects and blended into the overall sound. It drones on the one beat, and is not the most dyanmic song , but still works for what they are doing. A lower "gothy" vocals crawls into the sunlight on the last song. It takes two minutes for this song to really kick in. It rides a rough-edged syncopation. I think these guys are onto something, maybe one day they will remix this album so it sounds as it should, but even with that the songs are there so I will give this an 8.5. Dropping November 21st on Svart Records. 

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