By: Anders

Posted: Aug 16, 2005

Once in a while a new band pops up, with a debut album, which takes ones breath away, and put themselves in the spot for one of the future's bright hopes. This Norwegian band is one of those bands. I hadn't heard about Criterion before the promo copy of their album "The Dominant" ended up in my post box. Though I knew as soon I had given the album the first listen, that I was listening to something special.

The music is dark and atmospheric death metal, a nice mix of heavy mid-tempo paces, to faster straight ahead brutality. The latter without the band losing its atmosphere, it is kept dark and eerie all the time. The music is very influenced by Morbid Angel, but the band adds their own atmosphere and touch to the music, even though the inspiration shines very clear through once in a while.

The compositions are great, catchy, very technical and listenable, the dark eerie atmosphere sucks the listener into Criterion's universe and it’s not easy to get out again. Great heavy, melodic and catchy riffs with a technical twist, and great leads. A subtle, but present bass. Great drumming, sometimes straight ahead, at other times more like percussion, it all works great. The songs are interesting, good variation, nice breaks, good song writing. The vocals are good as well a dark and deep growl, reminiscent of David Vincent once in a while, but that’s not an entirely bad thing.

The album is good all the way through; there isn't really a track that falls through. The production is nice and heavy and pushes the music forth. The instruments are well placed in the mix and they all make their share of the noise.

Thinking of this is Criterion's debut album, there must be quite a future ahead of the band, making an album like this as the first, is a sign of class. This is a must for fans of dark and atmospheric death metal, but beware the album is very addictive. And mark my words when I say that we will be hearing a lot more of Criterion in the future.

Rating: 8,5/10

Print