Domine
Encyclopedia
Domine is an Italian
heavy metal
band formed in 1983. The power metal
band from Florence
, who began releasing demo tapes in 1986, got some attention with their first album, Champion Eternal, released in 1997. Domine went on to release four more albums, touring Europe and playing at many festivals. They have been linked to heroic fantasy
and sword and sorcery
writers like Michael Moorcock
and Robert E. Howard
for their lyrics related to the Elric of Melniboné
and Conan the Barbarian
novels.
The band has been compared by magazines and fanzines to Manowar, Queensryche
, Warlord
, Omen (band)
, Helstar
, Candlemass
, and Iron Maiden
. The band established its personal style with songs like “Stormbringer (The Black Sword)” and “Army of The Dead”, and power metal assaults like “The Mass Of Chaos” and “The Midnight Meat Train”. Some of the songs have progressive structures like the title track, “The Eternal Champion”, a 12 minutes long suite divided in seven parts.
In 1998, keyboards player Riccardo Iacono entered the band and singer Morby sang in Labyrinth
during their European tour with HammerFall
.
Soon after the recording of the album, drummer Mimmo quit musical activities to dedicate his time to his family. The new drummer is Stefano Bonini, previously with extreme act Necromass, with whom he recorded 2 albums and toured Europe with Dark Funeral
.
After the release of the album, the band began playing live concerts, starting in Athens, Greece, then a European tour opening for American bands Riot
, Anvil
and Agent Steel
.
Domine played at the Powermad 2000 Festival with Running Wild
, Grave Digger
and Moon Of Steel.
"Stormbringer Ruler" includes the songs “Horn of Fate”, “The Bearer Of The Black Sword”, “For Evermore” and “Dawn of A New Day” which are parts of a mini-concept entitled “The Chronicles of the Black Sword – The End on an Era” inspired by the final part of the saga of Elric of Melnibone
, and tells the story of the final destiny of science fiction/fantasy author Michael Moorcock’s character Elric Of Melnibonè, Dragonlord and Ruler of the Black Sword Stormbringer. In the milieu in which several series of Moorcock's novels are set, Elric is one of the many incarnations of the Eternal Champion, an immortal being doomed to reincarnate in many heroes and to fight forever. The destiny of the incarnation called Elric is to be the herald of the final battle between Chaos and Law for the Earth.
“The Ride of the Valkyries” is a tribute to Richard Wagner
and to his operas inspired by northern mythology. The song features the theme of the opera “Die Walküre” from the “Der Ring des Nibelungen”.
, and other songs hark to Jethro Tull
's style or refer back to Moorcock's other works.
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band formed in 1983. The power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band from Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, who began releasing demo tapes in 1986, got some attention with their first album, Champion Eternal, released in 1997. Domine went on to release four more albums, touring Europe and playing at many festivals. They have been linked to heroic fantasy
Heroic fantasy
Heroic fantasy is a sub-genre of fantasy which chronicles the tales of heroes in imaginary lands. Unlike stories of sword and sorcery, heroic fantasy narratives tend to be intricate in plot, often involving many peoples, nations and lands. Grand battles and the fate of the world are common themes,...
and sword and sorcery
Sword and sorcery
Sword and sorcery is a sub-genre of fantasy and historical fantasy, generally characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent conflicts. An element of romance is often present, as is an element of magic and the supernatural...
writers like Michael Moorcock
Michael Moorcock
Michael John Moorcock is an English writer, primarily of science fiction and fantasy, who has also published a number of literary novels....
and Robert E. Howard
Robert E. Howard
Robert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
for their lyrics related to the Elric of Melniboné
Elric of Melniboné
Elric of Melniboné is a fictional character created by Michael Moorcock, and the antihero of a series of sword and sorcery stories centering in an alternate Earth. The proper name and title of the character is Elric VIII, 428th Emperor of Melniboné...
and Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian is a fictional sword and sorcery hero that originated in pulp fiction magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films , television programs, video games, roleplaying games and other media...
novels.
Champion Eternal
Champion Eternal was the starting point of a new life for the band, after many years in the underground scene. The band had been in existence for some time when the debut album was released, by Italian label Dragonheart, having previously recorded four demo tapes (from 1986 to 1994) getting reviews and interviews in a lot of fanzines and magazines around the world. However, the line-up of the band changed just before the CD was released. The new line-up of the group was Enrico Paoli on guitars, Riccardo Paoli on bass (the only ones left of the original line-up), Mimmo Palmiotta on drums (previously with Masterstroke and Death SS) and Morby on vocals (ex-Sabotage, one of the very first metal bands in Italy).The band has been compared by magazines and fanzines to Manowar, Queensryche
Queensrÿche
thumb|250px|right|Queensrÿche's classic line-up performing at the [[Sauna Open Air Metal Festival]] 2011 in [[Tampere]], [[Finland]]. Left to right: bass Eddie Jackson, lead vocals Geoff Tate, drums Scott Rockenfield and guitars Michael Wilton....
, Warlord
Warlord
A warlord is a person with power who has both military and civil control over a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. The term can also mean one who espouses the ideal that war is necessary, and has the means and authority to engage in war...
, Omen (band)
Omen (band)
Omen is an American heavy metal band. The band was formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1983, by lead guitarist Kenny Powell, previously with the band Savage Grace and signed on with Metal Blade in 1984, with whom they released their debut Battle Cry .In 1985...
, Helstar
Helstar
Helstar is a heavy metal band from Houston, Texas, formed in 1982.-History:Helstar began with a basic metal style in 1983 with 2 demos, followed by their first studio album in 1984 titled Burning Star for Combat Records, making them label mates with Megadeth and Exodus. Struggles within the band...
, Candlemass
Candlemass
Candlemass are an influential Swedish doom metal band established in 1984 by Leif Edling , their leader and songwriter. The band is originally from Stockholm. After releasing five full-length albums and touring extensively throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Candlemass disbanded in 1994, but...
, and Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
. The band established its personal style with songs like “Stormbringer (The Black Sword)” and “Army of The Dead”, and power metal assaults like “The Mass Of Chaos” and “The Midnight Meat Train”. Some of the songs have progressive structures like the title track, “The Eternal Champion”, a 12 minutes long suite divided in seven parts.
In 1998, keyboards player Riccardo Iacono entered the band and singer Morby sang in Labyrinth
Labyrinth (band)
Labyrinth is a power metal band formed in 1991 in Massa, Italy. The band underwent a change in style and themes after the departure of Olaf Thorsen in 2002.-1990s:...
during their European tour with HammerFall
HammerFall
HammerFall is a power metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. The band was formed in 1993 by ex-Ceremonial Oath guitarist Oscar Dronjak.- Early days :...
.
Dragonlord
Dragonlord (Tales of the Noble Steel) is the band's second album and the most successful in terms of sales. All the songs on the album were written from July to December 1998, except for three tracks written for demo tapes and redone for the album at the request of the fans of the demo tapes. A few songs on “Champion Eternal” had some keyboard parts but with the joining of the fifth member, keyboards are used more and more to add atmosphere to the songs. The band spent the beginning of 1999 to pre-produce the songs and entered the studio in May.Soon after the recording of the album, drummer Mimmo quit musical activities to dedicate his time to his family. The new drummer is Stefano Bonini, previously with extreme act Necromass, with whom he recorded 2 albums and toured Europe with Dark Funeral
Dark Funeral
Dark Funeral is a black metal band from Stockholm, Sweden, founded by guitarists Blackmoon and Lord Ahriman in 1993. They are one of the bands to have emerged in Sweden during the Second wave of black metal....
.
After the release of the album, the band began playing live concerts, starting in Athens, Greece, then a European tour opening for American bands Riot
Riot (band)
Riot is an American heavy metal band founded in New York City in 1975 by guitarist Mark Reale. Reaching a peak in popularity in the early 80s, the band has continued a long-running successful career....
, Anvil
Anvil (band)
Anvil is a Canadian heavy metal band comprising Steve "Lips" Kudlow , Robb Reiner , and Glenn Five...
and Agent Steel
Agent Steel
Agent Steel is an American speed metal band from Los Angeles, California that was formed in 1984 by singer John Cyriis ,and drummer Chuck Profus. The band released two full length albums, and one EP before disbanding in 1988...
.
Domine played at the Powermad 2000 Festival with Running Wild
Running Wild (band)
Running Wild is a German heavy metal band, formed in 1976 in Hamburg. They were part of the German heavy/speed/power metal scene to emerge in the early to mid 1980s. The band has carved its niche in the metal world as the first "pirate metal" band, a theme which took off with the release of Under...
, Grave Digger
Grave Digger (band)
Grave Digger are a German heavy metal/power metal band formed in 1980. They were part of the German heavy/speed/power metal scene to emerge in the early to mid 1980s.-Band history:...
and Moon Of Steel.
Stormbringer Ruler
The new album Stormbringer Ruler – The Legend of the Power Supreme was recorded during April 2001 at the New Sin Audio Design in Loria (TV)."Stormbringer Ruler" includes the songs “Horn of Fate”, “The Bearer Of The Black Sword”, “For Evermore” and “Dawn of A New Day” which are parts of a mini-concept entitled “The Chronicles of the Black Sword – The End on an Era” inspired by the final part of the saga of Elric of Melnibone
Elric of Melniboné
Elric of Melniboné is a fictional character created by Michael Moorcock, and the antihero of a series of sword and sorcery stories centering in an alternate Earth. The proper name and title of the character is Elric VIII, 428th Emperor of Melniboné...
, and tells the story of the final destiny of science fiction/fantasy author Michael Moorcock’s character Elric Of Melnibonè, Dragonlord and Ruler of the Black Sword Stormbringer. In the milieu in which several series of Moorcock's novels are set, Elric is one of the many incarnations of the Eternal Champion, an immortal being doomed to reincarnate in many heroes and to fight forever. The destiny of the incarnation called Elric is to be the herald of the final battle between Chaos and Law for the Earth.
“The Ride of the Valkyries” is a tribute to Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
and to his operas inspired by northern mythology. The song features the theme of the opera “Die Walküre” from the “Der Ring des Nibelungen”.
Emperor of the black runes
Domine created its fourth album "Emperor Of The Black Runes" with the New Sin Audio Design studio in May 2003, after some months of writing and pre-production. The "Aquilonia Suite", a track with excerpts from "Conan The Barbarian" soundtrack, gets an enthusiastic response from the amazing composer Basil PoledourisBasil Poledouris
Vassilis Konstantinos "Basil" Poledouris was a Greek-American music composer who concentrated on the scores for films and television shows...
, and other songs hark to Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull (band)
Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
's style or refer back to Moorcock's other works.
Ancient Spirit Rising
Domine's fifth studio album, "Ancient Spirit Rising", was released in 2007. The album contains references to classical music, progressive influences and country-flavored ballads. After this album was recorded the band resumed live gigs. In March 2008, keyboard player Riccardo Iacono left the band for personal reasons. The new member is Gabriele Caselli, who debuted with Domine at the Agglutination Festival in 2008.Members
- Morby (Adolfo Morbiducci) - vocals
- Enrico Paoli - guitar
- Riccardo Paoli - bass
- Riccardo Iacono - keyboards
- Stefano Bonini - drums
Past members
- Stefano Mazzella - Vocals
- Agostino Carpo - Guitars
- Mimmo Palmiotta - Drums
- Simone Gazzola - Vocals
- Carlo Funaioli - Drums
- Gabriele Caselli - Keyboards
Discography
- Champion Eternal (1997)
- Dragonlord (1999)
- Stormbringer RulerStormbringer RulerStormbringer Ruler is the third album released in 2001 by Italian epic metal band Domine. It is the third and final chapter of the story of Elric Of Melnibone.- Track listing :#"The Legend of the Power Supreme" #"The Hurricane Master"...
(2001) - Emperor of the Black RunesEmperor of the Black RunesEmperor of the Black Runes is the fourth album by Domine. It was recorded in May 2003 and released under Japanese label Avalon in February 2004.-Track listing:All tracks by Enrico Paoli# "Overture Mortale " - 01:09# "Battle Gods" - 04:58...
(2003) - Ancient Spirit RisingAncient Spirit RisingAncient Spirit Rising is the fifth album by Domine. It was recorded in January 2007 and released under Japanese label Avalon in February 2007.-Track listing:All tracks by Enrico Paoli except were noted# "The Messanger" - 6:24...
(2007)