Rating: 9.8

Country: Norway

Release Date: 2005

Track list:
1 Demoniac Replacement
2 The Slayer
3 Obliteration
4 Last Breath
5 Blackened Memories
6 Denial
7 Awaken
8 Suffocation
9 The Dominant

Band Website: Criterion

Criterion - The Dominant

Vocals - John R. Urbanski
Drums - Kenneth Skarholen
Guitars - Kim Nybakken
Bass - Rene Johansen

It's a different time now than it was in say…1992. I don't want to accept it, and often I will outright refuse to. However the bands these days make it hard to pretend like it's not about 15 years later. With all the pro-tools, gravity blasts, ultra-gutteral “vocals”, and an overall sense of soullessness… All an old schooler really wants is for a band now and again to come along and play something called PURE death metal. Thank fucking Chris Reifert that there are a few bands that somewhat resemble that. IF you miss the old Floridian style, and miss some of the things that made all of the old European bands so listenable then maybe, just maybe (or perhaps most definitely) you will be fond of Criterion. I myself couldn't imagine the year 2005 without them. After Bolt Thrower‘s 'Those Once Loyal', this album I am reviewing 'The Dominant' was THE album of the year (for 2005). And the best debut I have heard since Intestine Baalism's 'An Anatomy of the Beast'. Boasting a robust production job that has an absolutely MASSIVE wall of concrete crushing your bones in the form of a guitar tone, and a drum sound similar to Soul Reaper-though much more, again “massive” and less synthetic. And in that sentence I just typed; a solo hit, one of many, that gives me chills and makes me proud to own an appreciate this band. And I know it's not the last time my fingers will stop so I can fully appreciate what I am hearing….

Again this is the best debut I have heard in almost a decade. This is some abso fucking lutely INCREDIBLE death metal that true fans of the genre, and only true fans can wholly appreciate. Criterion blends a strong sense of melody and harmony (“Blackened Memories”, “Obliteration“) with traditional death metal influence ("The Slayer", “Last Breath”) along side bone jarring brutality (“Blackened Memories” again! and “Suffocation“). This blend of aggression and force with finesse is something so many bands lack today with their single minded visions. Criterion harkens back to a time when few rules applied and bands were more apt to create something personal as opposed to being (intentionally/consciously?) pigeon holed (Brutality fans would eat this stuff up and crave seconds). Often riffs will bring older bands into the mindset. I hear stuff that strongly reminds me of Pestilence (“Last Breath”) not so much aurally, but the riffs themselves. The riff transitions are smooth and natural, as nothing feels forced or nothing is reduced to riff salad. Think Monstrosity at their best.

The music is mostly guitar oriented, yet the songs are not totally reliant on riffs. So many solos are lifted from the soul by the fingers and you can really FEEL what you are hearing and are sucked in by the moment, and I assume when Criterion created these sounds it was the same way for them. It's such a remarkable thing that almost no band can ever do… to just let the music take on a mind of it's own and take you through a journey of emotions. Yes I am typing about a death metal record, this is the way it USED to be. No gimmicks, just amazing songs. The ideas, compositions and executions are fairly unique within the death metal context and I can even imagine nonfans of the genre to be sucked in by what Criterion offers. How many bands can I (or you?!) really say that about a band in this genre and mean it? If Criterion can keep this same sense of song crafting, the same passion. If Criterion can keep their heads straight, and if the right label picks this up and gives them the attention and push they deserve, Criterion could very well be the next big name on the cover of magazines and the next name to be uttered by new and old fans alike as THE band to be listening to. If, If…

This album is too excellent for you to pass up. Instead of going on with more and more paragraphs about how perfect it is, I think I will just leave you with some words to properly describe this great album. Total Conviction, proud, well crafted, unforgettable solos (“Awaken“ and all of it‘s solos are a must hear, unspeakably awesome stuff), Monstrosity, Death, Brutality, Pestilence, heartfelt, variety, instant classics, well produced, no filler, inspired, spirited, powerful. A mandatory purchase.

extra special thanks to "Destined to Fester" on the DC board for getting me into this band, i could never thank you enough!

April 3rd, 2006