I’m as likely to enjoy a power metal album as I am to dislike it. While I usually dig the big, full sound, often the music comes across as over-polished, technical, and impersonal. So I came into Dominum‘s sophomore album, giving it a 50/50 chance, and I’m glad I gave it that chance. From the opening track to the final, it crushes. And if you get the deluxe version, the live tracks are impressive.
Dominum is a German band of undead musicians with Dr. Dead (Felix Held) on vocals, Patient Zero (Korbinian Benedict) on bass, Victor Hilltop on drums, and Tommy Kemp on guitars. The Dead Don’t Die is the follow-up to their debut released only a year earlier. If you liked the debut, you’ll love this one.
The Dead Don’t Die is something of a concept album, but it’s more of an extension of the band itself being a concept. Dominum definitely has a schtick: Zombie Metal. Their website states they make music “that tell stories of zombies, survival, and the insatiable hunger for more.” As a big fan of both metal and horror, this shit is right up my alley.
The Dead Don’t Die
In addition to my reservations about power metal, another bias plagued me thanks to the album title The Dead Don’t Die. I’ve recently subjected myself to the 2019 Jim Jarmusch movie of the same name because I can’t let a zombie movie go without seeing it. I like quirky directors and was a fan of his movie Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai. How could you go wrong with a cast including Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Steve Buscemi, Tilda Swinton, and a bunch of other great actors? Turns out, you can and the result is pure tedium.
So if you share that same bias, please don’t apply it to Dominum‘s album. As boring as that movie was, the 37:00 minutes on the standard release and the additional 34 minutes on the deluxe edition is anything but boring. If you can’t live with yourself without seeing every zombie movie, do yourself a favor and mute the movie, maybe speed it up a little, and listen the the The Dead Don’t Die album instead.
A Zombie Metal Buffet
It’s difficult to call out highlights on an album so packed full of gleefully theatric metal. It’s a feast of gothic rock with delights in every song. For this review, I’ve picked a few songs to give you a taste. Like a zombie taking their first bite of brains, you’ll definitely want to come back for more.
First Course: The Dead Don’t Die
For the first course, Dominum serves up “The Dead Don’t Die” with help from another German band, Feuerschwanz. It’s a twisted lullaby for children of the zombie apocalypse. The blend of Dominum’s undead metal and Feuerschwanz’s medieval warrior aura is truly a thing of beauty, especially if you like your metal on the theatrical side.
Second Course: Don’t Get Bitten By The Wrong Ones
The second course, “Don’t Get Bitten By The Wrong Ones” is one of the catchier tracks on an album full of them. Songs like this demonstrate all the strengths of the band, songwriting, music chops, and a great video well worth your time.
Third Course: We Are Forlorn
“We Are Forlorn” serves up a crushing album opener. The slow, ominous build up transitions to a huge symphonic sound and then a nice, chunky riff. The layered sound, energetic drums, and anthemic chorus, come together to create a heavy, catchy, song requiring high volumes.
Dessert: One of Us
For dessert, the finest treat in the album, “One of Us“. Dominum offers a somewhat different take on Easter. In it, Jesus rises from the dead and claims his place as the Lord of the undead. It’s an up-tempo symphonic masterpiece with everything you’d want in a metal song: great riffs, huge choruses, killer solo, and a relentless, driving beat.
Make it a Deluxe
Deluxe sets scare me sometimes, especially with younger bands. What could they possibly have on there that’d be worth it? The answer is a second helping of live zombie metal goodness. The deluxe set features a live performance from Belgium’s Graspop Metal Meeting in 2024. The live set did exactly what it was supposed to do: make me wish I was there. The band played great and had the crowd eating brains out of their hand.
The set covers much of their last album, Hey Living People. You’ll definitely want to check out highlights like “Frankenstein,” “We All Taste the Same,” and “Patient Zero.” Dominum takes on a few covers in the set. It takes a real German band to pull off Klaus Meine‘s voice in the Scorpions‘ “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” and they crush it. You can tell Dr. Dead‘s having a blast singing the classic. Dominum also takes on “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish. It’s perfect as a metal song.
Conclusion
The Dead Don’t Die is a killer concept album from a concept band really nailing their persona. If we can have Pirate Metal, why not Zombie Metal? Dominum fully embraces their zombie mythos of a world where zombies claim The Savior as the lord of the undead, or where they prove to be the most anti-racist humanoids ever because “We All Taste The Same.” With two albums under their belt, the concept hasn’t worn out its welcome.
Horror and metal are made for each other. Dominum pulls it off with an album full of gruesome, epic power metal stories, full of snarling vocals, and huge orchestration. It’s brimming with eldritch earworms. If you’re a fan of both metal and horror, you’ll love The Dead Don’t Die. But I can also guarantee that if you’re one of 38% of people on Rotten Tomatoes who gave the film The Dead Don’t Die positive reviews, you will hate this record.
Check out my other articles and reviews here. Dave Wilks.
BUY: Napalm Records
