Hollow Dominion

The Czech Republic's underground Metal scene has produced some killer Metal acts over the past several years. One of the best is the Death Metal band Destroying Divinity, which leans heavily on a musical approach originally taken by New York's Immolation; dark, technical, heavy and unorthodox Death Metal played with a high caliber musicianship.

Hollow Dominion is the band's fourth album but, since I haven't heard anything released prior, I cannot say if they have outdone themselves on this record. However, as I said in the beginning, it's Immolation's name that comes to mind most often when listening to Destroying Divinity. Vocalist Erik must be Ross Dolan's European cousin or something; he sounds almost exactly like Ross at times, while at others he adopts this Antti Boman (of Demilich fame) inhuman guttural growl. It is pretty confusing but the bottom line is Hollow Dominion contains some of the heaviest, meanest and darkest Death Metal that I have heard come out of Europe in years. I don't know whether it's harsh to say but they are like Europe's answer to Immolation. With these eight songs Destroying Divinity mangles then destroy us all, in a good way.

Wicked, sinister, dark and technically advanced Death Metal always gets extra points in my book and Hollow Dominion is chock full. Destroying Divinity will tear you apart; be warned!