### Criterion: The dominant

#### 11/08/05 || Lord K Philipson

When I was in Norway with Vicious Art, a band called Wyruz opened up for VA. I was really impressed with their performance and even more impressed that drummer Per Kristian of the mentioned band sent me my beloved TPH/GAI hoodie that I lost in a very drunken state of mind (fuck you think when you are up partying until 6 in the morning?). I have wanted to hear Wuryz on a recording since that gig and today I got a package from said guy. Only it’s not a recording with Wyruz, haha… Instead it’s an album consisting of the 2 Wyruz-guitarists, Kim and Vegar. I think it’s nice of Per Kristian to promote his friends instead of his own band, haha… Whereas I remember Wyruz as a full-on thrash metal assault with impressive drumming, Criterion are full-on fucken death metal with impressive guitar-work, melodies and memorable tunes. To say the least I dig it. “The Dominant” is displaying some neat musicianship as well as fine brutality, completed with a decent production (handled by Ram-Zet’s own Zet in his Space Valley Studios – my version sounds a little weird, but I think that’s thanx to the ripping Per did before burning it).

At times Criterion gives me hints of Morbid Angel (when they didn’t suck), mixed up with some later era Death. Not completely fucked up if you ask me. The innovative riffing and melodies adds to the flavour and makes Criterion stand out a bit more than yer regular death metal band. Usually vocals can destroy a band but Mr. Urbanski holds a neat growl, complimenting the music very well. So no points taken away for that. All in all, Criterion are real fucken good and with a suitable label they might even make themselves a name outside of Norway. That’s really all I have to say, make sure to check Criterion out if yer into some quality death metal with melodies and neat hooks.

7 1/2 burning churches out of 10.

5/10

- Information
- Released: 2005
- Label: Morbid Records
- Website: www.criterion.no
- Band
- Kim Nybakken: guitars
- Kenneth Skårholen: drums
- John Richard Urbanski: vocals
- René Johansen: bass

- Tracklist
- 01. Demoniac replacement
- 02. The Slayer
- 03. Obliteration
- 04. Last breath
- 05. Blackened memories
- 06. Denial
- 07. Awaken
- 08. Suffocation
- 09. The dominant