Stormbringer Ruler

Domine

Epic Power Metalsters long may be your days! Domine are back to make your hearts […]
By Fotis Giakob
November 21, 2001
Domine - Stormbringer Ruler album cover

Epic Power Metalsters long may be your days! Domine are back to make your hearts pulse to Epic Metal. After almost two years and a great previous album 'Dragonlord - Tales Of The Noble Steel', they are back to pound some true metal once again and continue the story of Elric Of Melnibone.
Their new album's full title is 'Stormbringer Ruler - The Legend Of The Power Supreme' and is based on the story of Elric Of Melnibone as Domine have used us to, in the past.
The two year span from the previous album seems to have rejuvenated Domine, since they are here full of energy and power as you will have the chance to discover. Morby's voice is as thunderous and melodic as ever, the drums got better (yeap I know this is a hard thing to believe but it is true), the guitars and bass are full of melody and speed and the keyboards are also here to retain and maximise everything.
To the point now. The album opens with 'The Legend Of Power Supreme' an atmospheric introduction which yields to 'The Hurricane Master' a song full of deep, hoarse sounding bass, powerful guitar/drums thundering combination and subtle but melodic keyboards for good measure.
Moving on, I would like to stand to an exhibition of serious musicianship in 'The Ride Of Valkyries'... In my humble opinion WAGNER would be proud for the adoption of his song. I state that, it is an adoption of the original epic rhythm as we are used by many metal bands and not a simple cover. They retain the basic melody/rhythm but push the original song to it's melodic limits and even beyond....
Anyway since the main point of reviewing is to actually buy the album for yourselves and agree/disagree with me I will conclude commenting on the slow and emotional 'For evermore' and the surprise in it (find for yourselves guys, I won't tell....Ok, in this song Morby voice is accompanied by female vocals. Ok now? Satisfied?) and the 'Dawn Of A New Day - A Celtic Requiem' with its celtic harmony.
So, on to the easy part now. My rating came to me easily for this one. The only reason I won't give a clear 10/10 is that by now and after three albums some may be tired of the continuity of the story of Elric. Apart from that their music tends to a maturity hard to find nowadays... I would suggest this album to all. Even to those of you who despise the Epic/Power scene. This album will make you think twice. It would be very helpful as a reference of what true Epic/Power Metal is....

9 / 10

Almost Perfect

"Stormbringer Ruler" Track-listing:

The Legend Of The Power Supreme (intro)
The Hurricane Master
Horn Of Fate
The Ride Of The Valkyries
True Leader Of Men
The Bearer Of The Black Sword
The Fall Of The Spiral Tower
For Evermore
Dawn Of A New Day - A Celtic Requiem

Domine Lineup:

Morby - vocals
Riccardo Iacono - keyboards
Enrico Paoli - guitar
Riccardo Paoli - bass
Stefano Bonini - drums

linkcrossmenucross-circle linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram