Although Callenish Circle have put out quite a bunch of releases during the last decade, I never heard their stuff until I got cheap enough second hand copy of 'Flesh_Power_Dominion'. I read from some where, that on this album the band steered from doom/death metal of the yore.

'Flesh_Power_Dominion' is modern metal with heavy 'n' grinding (just don't mix this comparison with grindcore), quite simplistic riffs with occasional guitar melody soaring over them and brutal vocals. Think of Swedes At The Gates and The Haunted and especially groovy Arise and Gardenian (I find each of these bands much more interesting), if you've heard 'em, because Callenish Circle is quite a lot like latter two. Except Callenish Circle lack on the groove department for some reason. There's driving beats and loads of tempo changes, but riffing just does not grip me. Probably because it's more or less bland for a big part, even though it's all memorable. The vocals are raging growl with variety, at times getting too "Donald Duck with throat-infection" style crap. Anyway, Callenish Circle aren't aggressive even if they try to be. Therefore 'Bleeding' is nice change to calmer and melancholic, more melodic territory, but it is also more original-sounding song herein. Its calmer parts wouldn't be out of place on Within Temptation album, but so what, the song works! Melancholy can be heard on following three songs, even though they are more thrashing ones again. 'They Have Chosen' rips off, or is a tribute to, Metallica's 'To Live Is to Die', happened to listen it today! '...' is one of these meaningless outros. Human emotions from rage to loss are lyrical theme, but the music lacks of emotional side. The band got more modern, just like the cover art, so it is a good indicator.

The Andy Classen production can't be accused for bluntness and lack of aggression. His work is pretty good; it sounds rather organic and well-balanced, even though it's somehow congested. What I enjoy are heavy Bolt Thrower-ish/Gardenian-ish rhythm guitars. This time Niklas Sundin's cover art is "let's overlay computer images" type chaos without any idea (well, I can't find one if it's there, but Niklas himself is...).

The digipak version at least has two bonus tracks: Death's classic 'Pull the Plug', which happens to be most brutal stuff on this album and good enough a cover, and Golden Earring's 'When the Lady Smiles', which is still recognizable but with growled vocals it really doesn't rock my world (often happens when original melodic vocals are growled on a cover version).

'Flesh_Power_Dominion' leaves me cold. It doesn't annoy me brainless but neither make me feel good. But if you enjoy the band's mentioned above, be free to check Callenish Circle out, who knows you might like this Dutch band.

Rating: 6 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
03/21/2005 21:40