AEON

Every once in a while you put in a CD and moments later your jaw has dropped to the floor and you find yourself uttering things like, "Jesus Christ!" There is something about the disruptive shock to the system that the heavy-as-fuck blast of pure American-style death metal on "Rise to Dominate" from Sweden's AEON delivers that is so damn devastating. A fantastic production/engineering job from the band, Marcus Edvardsson, and Joakim Staaf (mixing/mastering by Dan Swano),memorable songwriting, and a technical/brutal musical assault makes "Rise to Dominate" a monster of a death metal album.

CANNIBAL CORPSE's Alex Webster is quoted as saying "It's rare to find a death metal band that is simultaneously crushingly brutal and infectiously catchy. AEON is one of those rare bands". One needs only to spin "Rise to Dominate" to realize that Webster is spot on in his assessment. A fierce cyclone of riffs from Zeb Nilsson (lead/rhythm) and Daniel Dlimi (rhythm) and a stunning rhythmic explosion from drummer Nils Fjellstrom are but two parts of an all-encompassing attack. The sickening crunch and just the right amount of technicality in the guitars reminds of CANNIBAL CORPSE's later efforts. Vocalist Tommy Dahlstrom comes with a classic death growl that is intelligible and right up there with folks like David Vincent and, to some degree, George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher. While there is a good deal of up-tempo material, songs like "You Pray to Nothing" ride a steady tempo, the song reminding one of MORBID ANGEL's "Where the Slime Live", both from the standpoint of the march-like pace and memorable chorus. "Rise to Dominate" slays from beginning to end. No question about it.

"Rise to Dominate" is yet another in a long line of quality death metal releases this year. No trails are blazed, but the craftsmanship is stellar and the experience damaging to the ears and the nervous system. Highly recommended for any fan of the good stuff. One word review: Wow!