XX: The Rising Vengeance is not your latest Michael Bay movie. It is actually the new album from Italian melodeath and groove metal band, Dominance. This is the group's third album and features some line-up changes as well. The band definitely didn't go for subtle when it came time to pick a title and cover art for this release, so my first and foremost question was whether the music could stand up to the same levels?
Things start off quite promising on this front for Dominance. The band exhibits their namesake very much so on opening track, "Journey to a New Life," which is a total banger featuring hot hooks and a ripping solo. "Twisted" is another personal favorite with its imposing death growls and Meshuggah-esque breakdowns. This track features some really killer drumming and a totally infectious tapping riff that always gets me moving despite some of the issues I have with the vocals on the chorus.
But now we are transitioning to the issues I have with XX: The Rising Vengeance: it takes a bit of a nose dive right after this halfway point. The entire first half of the album is very strong, but for some reason lead vocalist Massimiliano Marri begins to (gag) "yowl." If you don't know what that means, just google it. The term is famous for all the wrong reasons, harkening back mostly to 90's and early 2000's alternative music. The problem here is that it just sounds off key, cringe-inducing, and I'm sorry but just awful. Massimiliano, no disrespect to you at all. Your screams are excellent, but I encourage you to drop this other style. It drags an otherwise good song like "Dear Next Victim" otherwise into the dirt.
I have heard plenty of albums where one part was better than the other, but it is rare that I see such a stark contrast in quality. I think everyone in this band is extremely talented, with the drums and guitar really shining a light for the entire duration. I just think they should have stuck to the straight melodeath style that works for them instead of doing a crappy impression of Phil Anselmo after a few drinks. That having been said, I encourage you to listen to the album and make a decision for yourself. Given the strength of the latter material, I could certainly see these guys rally on the next one.