Review DEHUMAN REIGN “Dawn of a Malefic Dominion”

Dehuman Reign is a death metal band from Berlin, Germany. Founded in 2011, the five-piece band released a demo in 2012, which caught the attention of F.D.A. Records. The label released their debut album in 2016, followed by a second album.

This summer, Dehuman Reign will launch their third effort, “Dawn of a Malefic Dominion”, a smashing 11-track death metal album. The sinister intro, “The Invasion”, sets the tone for the other ten tracks. The first proper blast on the album is the fast-paced “Cursed to Feed on Flesh”. This evil death metal beast showcases the intensity of Dehuman Reign’s musical approach. Frontman Alex’s barking growls are just one factor contributing to this. The riff power and the hard-working rhythm section add to the brutality of Dehuman Reign’s music. When I listened to the song and the album, I was reminded of bands like Decide, who are certainly familiar to the guys from Berlin.

Next is the iron-pumping ‘Let Chaos Reign’, which reveals the excellent production quality early on. With Tobia Engl and Ulf Binder at the helm, the songs are electrifying yet still have enough of a filigree approach to make each instrument stand out clearly.

The five-piece can play fast and furious, but they also have a passion for groove, as can be appreciated in songs like ‘Opium’. The band doesn’t give their fans time to catch their breath, and songs like “Post-Traumatic Suicide Syndrome” with their screaming guitars are a treat for extreme metal fans. On the subject of guitars, Lukas Haidinger (Distaste) contributed a solo, and the pulsating ‘Preparing Armageddon’ features another guest appearance, this time from Sebastian Ankert (Sinners Bleed).

One of my favourite songs on the album is called “Heretic”. The band nails the balance between aggressiveness and groove. The throbbing foundation of this headbanger is an earth-shattering experience.

In summary. With their third album, Dehuman Reign pick up where they left off with their previous work. Spread over 43 minutes, their massive death metal reflects the intensity of the genre and the creative approach of a band that has grown with each album. Fans of bands like Decide should certainly check out “Dawn of a Malefic Dominion”.