Flesh Power Dominion

Flesh_Power_Domination, the debut from Scandinavian thrashers Callenish Circle, appears at first glance to be yet another entry into the technophobic nu metal arena also populated by bands like Fear Factory (the album cover's Matrix-style artwork would indicate a futuristic cyber-fetish), but further investigation reveals a fairly straightforward take on European death metal. The instrumentation is traditional (guitars, bass, drums, and vocal, with a few synth splashes thrown in for texture), but most surprisingly, the lyrics deal entirely with personal issues, with nary a whit of sci-fi pretensions. As with most death metal, the melodic elements of the music are handled by the guitarists, which incorporate gothic harmonies and occasional pseudo-classical touches, while the vocals are pure, throat-tearing white noise, a la At the Gates. Although Callenish Circle aren't breaking any new ground on their first album, the potential to do so in the future is abundant.