Let's get this out of the way right away: this is a concept album about Christian God revealing itself to humans. However, the album is quite dark and definitely the band do not preach their religion to listener. Hey, religious doom metal is nothing new, right?! Better to continue with analysing the music...

Forsaken represent Candlemass-esque doom metal. Huge riffs, soaring vocal melodies, atmospheric passages and heavy lower end. Pace varies between more predominant mid-tempo and slow. Cardinal sin on 'Dominaeon' seems to be that it doesn't offer much surprises. Songs such as 'Obsidian Dreams' and 'Kenosis' sound just too safe and familiar. On the other side of scale, trinity of 'The Celestial Alchemist', main attraction 'Daylight Dies' and 'Blood of the Son', and closer 'Resurgam', weigh even more than the shortcomings. The band lost their synthesizer player and on this album, the atmosphere is lifted by good use of choir, which, especially on 'The Celestial Alchemist', sounds like it was taken from an old movie soundtrack. Maybe the album would have sounded more atmospheric with synths, maybe not... This doesn't lack of epic feel, though.

Voice of Leo Stivala is powerful, robust and individual. He definitely gives Forsaken the edge of their own. Guitarist Sean Vukovic's playing is moody and bassist Albert Bell and drummer Simeon Gatt create a huge backbone. The heavy David Vella production is awesome in its primitiveness, because it kicks ass yet it allows all the details to shine.

'Dominaeon' is a good album, at least musicwise, but I do not really care about the lyrical subject. 'Anima Mundi' (2004) opened my eyes for true doom metal and I really do enjoy listening to it (although scoring it 8½ out of 10 might be a little overrated). This new album doesn't manage to wake similar excitative feelings in me, except during some greatest songs. However, the album sounds better the more I listen to it. And I've spinned this dozens of times already. Doom on!!!

Rating: 7½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
02/12/2006 16:40