DOMINATION BLACK is a Thrash/Symphonic/Power Metal band from Finland formed in 2003. After some line-up changes and tweaks to the sound, the current members have become a tight-knit group of very good musicians. "Judgement IV" is their fourth full-length release since 2005. Released on July 17, 2020 via Pride & Joy Records, this is definitely a must hear record for fans of music layered with guitars and keyboards. In the six years since their last LP, they have honed their skills to a fine point.

The album begins with "The Judgement", a tune that starts the record off on a really good note. Kicking in with all guns blazing right from the start, the intro will knock your socks off. Dropping off to set up the vocals, the song then kicks back in, making the vocals blend in to the music. Moving into "Obsession" and continuing through "Center Of The Universe", there is a feel that this song is mirroring the current mood of the world. There is a sense they might be speaking of how people today believe they are the be all, end all. Their opinion is all that matters and they need to hear nothing else.

Moving back into their more horror laden themes, "VAT" and "Though The World Perish" turn away from socially aware songs back to a more fun song with less doom and more drama. Every song on this record has something interesting about it, whether it is the lyrical content, the musical arrangement, the complexity of the instrumental mixing or a combination of all the above.

This is a complete band. It is not a vocalist with some instruments behind them or a guitarist who lets others join them to round out the sound. This is not to take away from the individual talents. The guitar solos are really good. The bass and drum rhythms are complex, intricate and enticing. The keyboards fill out the songs and really set the moods well. There is a blend of influences here, and they do a good job of taking the best parts from those influences. I hear HELLOWEEN and WITHIN TEPMTATION and BATTLE BEAST in equal measures on this record, which makes me really happy since those are some of my favorite artists. Definitely give this a listen. I played it on loop for almost a week and will add it to my heavy rotation list going forward.