By Vinnie Apicella

Maybe Italians DO do it better. Having only heard the faintest of whispers in my mind when I think back to Italian metal bands… Italy never really struck me as being a hotbed of heavy metal talent, but now with the echoes of artists like Luca Turilli and bands like Rhapsody and Labyrinth still ringing their majestic notes of conquering glory in my head, here approaches Domine, Metal Blade's newest find and one that's right in line to inherit the ever broadening throne of the Epic Power Metal domain. "Dragonlord…" is tied in conceptually in the whole noble fight for glory and honor tradition and strikes hard and heavy with a dually operative guitar/keyboard combination that adds to the splendor of this most inspiring creation. Keeping the flame alive, their saga burns long into the starry night, defending the faith with the likes of "Blood Brothers' Fight," Defenders," and "Mars, The Bringer of War," and deliver the message with cataclysmic results for their doomed adversaries foolish enough to challenge them. Domine houses the skills of some of the great talents we've come to know throughout the ages-Manowar, Iron Maiden, Running Wild… Virgin Steele, and tempers the greatest moments of the past with an eye toward future greatness! The grand finale of the lot is the thirteen plus minute epic "The Battle for the Great Silver Sword" with all its seven parts, a full mythical storybook that in and of itself defines the remarkable musical abilities and imaginative passion that marks the superior work of Domine.

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