DOMINION OF SUFFERING/PHOBONOID – Dominion of Suffering/Phobonoid

Fucking hell, this is some delightfully intense, unsettling, and interesting stuff courtesy of Dominion of Suffering (Slovakia) and Phobonoid (Italy). While the former serves up claustrophobic, fast-paced, and somewhat deranged black metal that recalls certain French Orthodox BM outfits, Phobonoid is a far trippier and more surreal listen and one that requires patience, but which is nevertheless incredibly rewarding and well worth the time and effort. I love the idea of doing split albums and having two or more artists who are musically different yet manage to complement each other. This excellent release by Godz ov War Productions is one such record, and although both entities employ dissonant riffing, chaotic leads and fills, and outright unhinged voices that go on top of the sharp and edgy riffs, the abundance of smothering darkness they offer feels unique and different from one another. Phobonoid delivers the album’s best and most exhilarating moments in the shape of the two lengthy compositions titled ‘Cosmonauta Eterno l’ and ‘Cosmonauta Eterno II’, and that mixture of atmospheric black metal, dark ambient noise, and a touch of the theatrical and avantgarde totally works for me. Simply put, those two cuts are entrancing gems that serve as the frothing climax.  

Overall, this is a most worthy addition to the label’s canon of works and one that fans of experimental black metal should pay heed to if they crave a pulsating and vibrant musical darkness that is titillating and addictive. These twisted acts have got you covered, and this many-layered listen will make you spiral downwards . . . which is a good thing, obviously.