Dominus

Biography

Dominus was a Danish death metal/groove metal band from Ringsted that formed in 1991 and split up in 2000/2001. They released one single, two demos and four albums. Though mostly known for their first two death metal albums, they moved into a groove metal direction on 1997's Vol.Beat release and would go on to fuse that sound with thrash metal and returning death metal elements on their final release, 2000's Godfallos.
The first demo “Ambrosias Locus×Ambrosias LocusApril 1992 · EP · DemoSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Intro: Ambrosias Locus0:282Blood Falls3:113Obscurantist4:204Suffocation to the Holy3:445The Fourth Dimension5:53” was a success in the Danish underground metal scene. They began touring around the surrounding area and eventually to other parts around Denmark. In 1993, “Astaroth×AstarothMarch 1993 · EP · DemoSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Intro: Astaroth0:452The Darkest Deity5:333Into the Gods3:474Spiritual Mountain2:365Infected Cadaver Flows5:29” released, bringing them more attention and making them a staple in the underground scene. Molon Lave got its hands on a copy of “Astaroth” and wanted to do a “7 with Dominus. Due to the inside financial issues with the label, promotion for the EP didn’t work too well. In 1994, Dominus entered the studio to create “View to the Dim×View to the Dim1994 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Symphony of the Godess (intro)2:372Tears in Black3:063Bring Down the Roars4:544Spiritual Mountain6:025Awakening of the Overthrown0:406View to the Dim3:177Lost Behind Scars2:528A Sign From the Cryptic Winter4:389The Blaze of Valhalla0:4310Sideral Path of Colours5:0911The Ravens Eye4:3812Weiv ot eht Mid (outro)1:00”, which instantly became popular amongst Dominus fans. Michael Poulsen was featured in many interviews and even a debate with a priest on a major live television network about satanism. Fans were excited to see what was to come from Dominus next, and were pleasantly surprised with “The First 9×The First 91996 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Dancing With Magic3:152Soul Damnation2:443Final Journey4:404The Burning Maid4:125Ancient Emperor4:036Next Living Obliging3:187Confront the 93:448Second Palace3:389The Crystal Demon4:0410Final Journey, Part II2:20.” The change in style led few fans away, but brought many new fans in. After this, Progress Records (or Progress Red) wanted a “second The First 9,” but Dominus had already come up with a new album idea. Just a year later in 1997, Dominus released “Vol.Beat”, an album that blended rock and roll with death metal. By this time, the band wanted to leave the death metal scene, seeing as it was falling apart on itself. Lastly, in 2000, the last album “Godfallos×Godfallos3 November 2000 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Thine4:312The Act of Organic Plastic4:063Seed From the Beast6:304Manipulated Destiny3:495Call #33:506Hypercane3:527The Face That Wouldn't Show3:568Antichrist3:219Cabbage4:3710To Seek Her Scent4:0611Angelsitter3:43” hit the scene. Many fans were disappointed in the complete genre change from death metal to Metallica-sounding songs. Michael Poulsen wanted to try clean singing for once, due to his upbringing in 50’s and 60’s rock and roll. In 2000, Dominus split up and the remaining members of the band went their separate ways.
When the band split up after their last album, lead singer and guitarist Michael Poulsen went on to form the band Volbeat, named after the Dominus album Vol.Beat and continuing that overall sound with a wide array of different influences. Jens Peter Storm would go on to perform lead guitar in the Danish thrash metal band TONS, a band which also featured fellow Dominus member Daniel Preisler Larsen.

Members

Michael Poulsen – vocals, guitars
Jens Peter Storm – guitars
Franz Gottschalk – bass
James Andersen – drums
Mads Hansen – guitar
Keld Buchhard – guitar
Jesper Olsen – bass
Anders Nielsen – bass
Jess Larsen – drums
Lars Hald – drums
Daniel Preisler Larsen – drums