**DOMINUS**

*"Ambrosias Locus" Demo '92*

I don't believe it: how can a band create such cool music, and then write

Creating Timeless Soundscapes: A Journey Through "Ambrosias Locus" Demo '92

In February '95 the debut-album from Denmark's uncrowned black/death metal kings was cast upon this planet. The band was formed in late 1991 and already the same year a debut-demo was released, which was received very good in the underground. The band played some local gigs and went through some line-up changes before they, in early 1993, went into the "Inside Studio" to record their second effort. With this new demo(n) "Astaroth", the band was placed among the elite of the Danish unsigned death metal bands, and soon things happened faster than ever. They were featured on the 2nd "Fuck You We're From Denmark"-compilation CD and were broadcast on a major television channel. Even had an interview which had been broadcasted twice! Though the band had been on hold most of the time because of the of course their stop-play in the late ’94. We've started to jam a bit with the old Illdisposed drummer Lars Hald, and we try to make some new material with him. In '96 we've planned to do a Euro-tour and we are now trying to make some new songs for that."

VIGOROUS DEBUT  
"Personally I think that "View To The Dim" is a very vigorous debut-disc. I think that we've chosen the right songs to put on the record. The album has almost one year has past since "View To The Dim", the band's debut-album, was released, so here is what has happened since then: "We haven't played that many gigs since the release of our debut-album only here on Sealand and in Copenhagen and some other small places. In October we were in East-germany to play, which was a fucking great experience. There was a lot great promotion for us in both newspapers and radios. We've got a lot of gig-offers in Jutland which we unfortunately had to turn down because our guitarist is truck-driver and he had a lot of overtime, so the consumer would also rather be on the safe side, rather than to get angry. 

been received quite okay by our fans, and it has got some good reviews in both newspapers and other music-magazines. I am almost 100% satisfied with the album. There are places where the sound is far too muddy and there are also other mistakes and errors etc. But it was also recorded in only 7 days!" Mr. Poulsen apologizes. Before "View..." was released, Dominus also released an E.P. for Molon Lave Records... were contacted by Molon Lave to record songs for "Astaroth"-E.P. which never was released. To record four (?) songs and of course two songs on the split-album, "Rest In Pieces". Slaughtered two pigs to eat with bread! So all this let to that we dumped them, 'cause luckily we hadn't signed a contract with them. After leaving Molon Lave, were contacted by Andreas from Progress Records, who told us to record some songs on a 4-tracker so that he could hear what we were doing. He heard it - and he ate it! We are only signed to RRS for one album, but we are talking about signing a new deal with the label."

By Jeppe Bæris

The Rise of Denmark's Uncrowned Black/Death Metal Kings

MYTHOLOGY

"I have always done everything in Dominus, both music and lyrics. In the old days our songs were very much inspired by satanism, but suddenly there were just too many bands writing lyrics about satanism, where many of them couldn’t even vouch for what they were writing about. Now our lyrics is a mixture of satanism and Northern mythology, which is also a very interesting thing. Next time we’ll record an album, the mixture might be totally different!"

I guess that many of you who read this interview have already heard "View To The Dim", and noticed that the outtro "Weiv Ot Eht Mid" is quite strange... I was wondering what’s really said in that song. "Almost everybody asks me that question!", Michael laughs, "but okay! It’s just a sentence from the song "View To The Dim" where I say something like "Die from my red sword", which then, after recording it, was played backwards. In the end I also wrote a short song that I’ve recorded backwards, so that I say something backwards when that was displayed backwards. Confused?" (Uhhh, long story, eh?) But let’s get back to the music, what about sources of inspirations...? "Both me and the rest of Dominus have a very broad taste of music. I can’t mention two or three bands that inspire us. It might as well be a picture, thoughts or sounds from the street that inspire me. But the reason why I bought my first guitar was because I heard some Black Sabbath. Black Sabbath, DIO and King Diamond are also my favorite bands."

LECTURES IN POSITIVE SATANISM

In Michael’s spare time, he once travelled from school to school all over the country, giving lectures in positive satanism: "But I don’t do that anymore", Michael says, "Now it’s more interviews done through the phone." But what is positive satanism then, I asked him. "Generally, people think that satanism is synonymous for cruelty and bad things - it’s not! I try to explain what positive satanism is all about, what kind of things that shines with satanism in the dark. Things that people don’t realize that it’s not all satanism is about." To me, satanism is both good and bad things. I people are afraid of that. But really, everybody hates, they are just afraid of admitting it."

It was around Christmas when I did this interview with Michael, so I found it quite natural to ask him if he celebrates the Christian tradition. "Yes, I do celebrate Christmas, I have my parents home in Ringsted. I have two sisters with kids and the children just love Christmas, all the colours and the presents that are given at Christmas. We get something good for dinner and the children get their presents and so on. But I don’t celebrate Christmas with Christmas-songs, you know - I am just there!"

BLACK METAL

A lot of blackmetal bands are releasing albums at the moment, like the metal-world have gone through a blackmetal storm! That doesn’t bother Michael, he’s laughing almost as he says that "I love black metal!", he begins, "It’s not so much that style, I might use just buy every single CD because those releases are painted in their faces, and that’s not my way. The Norwegian blackmetal bands are for sure the best. Some of those groups are Immortal, Storm, Satyricon and Mayhem. Then there are those Swedish black metal bands who just try to emulate the Norwegians way of playing, and are not trying to create a style of their own. And there have also been some church-fires, but those things they have to control themselves. I really don’t have a personal meaning about all that stuff. But I wouldn’t have done anything like that myself. I think there are better ways to fight the Christians. Okay, I do understand that they think it’s blasphemous to build churches on Odin’s land, but I won’t interfere in their business over there."

PREPARE FOR MAJOR CHANGES

It has been a year since the debut-disc was released, so it can't take long before Dominus will release their next album, hopefully. But will it be in the same style as the debut? "Well, now we’ve got a new drummer and we have about 3-4 songs on stock. One of the problems with our old drummer and guitarist was also that we couldn’t come to an agreement in which direction we wanted our music to go. 

will be out in ‘96, won’t be a "View To The Dim 2". We have a lot of new things to offer. The new songs will also be more swinging than previously and they’ll be more heavy and brutal than the old stuff. But you can prepare yourself for major changes!" 

The last words of Michael... "Look out for the new Dominus-album, and check it out when it’s released!"

-17-

From Satanism to Northern Myths: The Evolution of Dominus

- More Danish info. DOMINUS should, according to many, have signed to Greek Molon Lave Records. One can't help thinking that the Danish scene is about to be one of the strongest ever.

Dominus and the Rise of the Danish Music Scene

**DOMINUS**  
*“View To The Dim”*  
(RRS)  

The best and most promising Danish black/death metal band, Dominus, have released a formidable debut CD in the shape of "View To The Dim". It starts with an intro taken from the film "Dead Calm" where after hell breaks out! The music is, as mentioned, black/death metal of highest character with a good portion of originality. Beside a lot of brutality, this CD also offers swinging, catchy parts. Unfortunately the music gets a little messed up and the production muddy now and then, but quickly these four guys get things straightened out. Lyrically "View To The Dim" is "a trip through the 9th century’s darkness and mystic", as Progress expresses it, so what we are dealing with here is Northern Mythology and positive satanism for the intelectual. This band really deserves your attention with an album so brutal, so brilliant! (Read interview elsewhere.)  
**Mark: 9**

Brutality and Brilliance: Dominus' 'View To The Dim'

DOMINUS "Astaroth" Demo '93.  
Second demo from one of my fave Danish bands! This sure blasts away their debut demo. With a new line-up and better musicianship they present four songs in the Death Metal vein. Rather catchy (I know I've used that word before...), well not as catchy as their debut demo, but better and more well structured. A demo I can only recommend! One of the best Danish bands around! 40Dkr/ 6-7$ to DOMINUS. c/o Michael Poulsen, Egevej2, 4100 Ringsted, Denmark. -BA.

Dominus 'Astaroth' Demo '93: A Danish Death Metal Gem

# DOMINUS  
**Astaroth**  
(Demo 1993)

DOMINUS from Denmark, who according to the rumors, have signed to Greek Molon Lave records gave me this tape to review. “Astaroth” contains 4 songs and 1 intro. The music is pure brutal death metal with a satanic message. I can't help of thinking of GOREFEST and BENEDICTION when listening to this, and still thinking on DEICIDE when I read the lyrics. This demo is one of those demos that you need to purchase. Brutal death metal without any technical finesse, just pure brutality. And, if I was you, I would probably write the band anyway, just to ask when their debut vinyl approach will hit the streets.  
DOMINUS/ Ejevej 2/ 4100 Ringsted/ Denmark.

MN

Brutal Beginnings: A Review of Dominus' "Astaroth" Demo (1993)

so ridiculous lyrics? It's the same with  
DEICIDE, though this is even worse! The  
lyrics as you might have figured out  
deals with satanism and they written in  
a primitive way. But then, as far as I'm  
concerned the lyrics and the cover are  
the only really bad things about this  
demo! Musicwise DOMINUS are similar to  
BENEDICTION, only a bit "darker". That's  
perhaps because that DOMINUS doesn't use  
as happy riffs as BENEDICTION sometimes  
do. DOMINUS aren't exactly original or  
genious at their instruments, but then  
it must also be said that these guys  
aren't that old. This demo sure kills,  
and I've fortunately seen these guys  
live, and live they're even better!!  
Just as BENEDICTION DOMINUS are of one  
helluva growler, well actually DOMINUS  
are in possession of 2 (!!) brutal grow-  
lers! My advise is to buy this demo,  
throw away the lyric sheet, and then  
enjoy it! 65;- or 40 Dkr to  
DOMINUS  
  
c/o Michael Poulsen  
Egevæk 2  
4100 Ringsted  
Denmark  

Astaroth (1993)

Ambrosias Locus (1992)

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Trechoma # 4 page 52

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Trechoma # 4 page 33

Nagual # 1 page 58

Horrorscope # 1 page 22

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