When I recently commented that I miss Eternal Tears of Sorrow, the universe must have heard me. Or, at least, Steel Druhm did, as he spied from our vast promo pit The Fathomless Dominion, the sophomore full-length from US-based Cantu Ignis, an album allegedly recommended for fans of Eternal Tears of Sorrow (among others). Now, I’ll admit, lately I’ve been a bit picky with my review promos, but that simple reference was enough for me to cheerfully go in blind. Cantu Ignis base their sound off of quite a few legends of the melodic death metal scene, which is a great way to get some attention (hey, it worked on me), but also a good way to raise expectations. How do Cantu Ignis stack up to their idols?
The symphonic/melodic death metal tag Cantu Ignis placed on The Fathomless Dominion is an apt one, with some elements of black metal in the mix. Evoking the aforementioned Mors Principium Est, Kalmah, and, yes, Eternal Tears of Sorrow, the music here is vicious, thunderous, and often beautiful, equally likely to pummel blast beats and heavy riffs as to let synths dance across the arena. The skill and variety of each player build a balance that keeps things lively. Guitars and keys are equally likely to maintain melody, but the melody is always there, whether in the form of the sweeping leads that adorn the breakneck title track or the twinkling keys that decorate the comparatively mid-paced “Buried Planet.” The Fathomless Dominion is a good example of leads-led melodeath that shies away from neither heavy, angry moments (“Survey the Sun”), nor heavy keys used to make a melody stick (“The Fathomless Dominion”). This is a great setup for an album in this genre.
I get the sense that Cantu Ignis wanted each song on The Fathomless Dominion to showcase a different side of their style. “Survey the Sun” is the only song to use October Falls-esque acoustic interludes, for example, while “Within the Mind of Hell” takes a sweeping, epic approach largely absent from the rest of the album. Of course, with only six songs spanning thirty-seven minutes, it isn’t surprising that each one does something different. What is a bit surprising is just how many ideas Cantu Ignis fit into that fairly small timeframe—keys solos and guitar solos, heavy bass, and so many riffs. Perhaps the most consistent things on the album are the snarling vocals and speedy drums, which consistently take the complex route to get to where they’re going. In essence, there is a lot going on across The Fathomless Dominion, and the majority of it is very strong melodeath magic.
If there’s any issue with The Fathomless Dominion, it’s the same as its strength—a lot of stuff happening at once. Most songs have distinct structures and all repeat themes, but it often doesn’t feel that way; “Buried Planet,” for example, definitely has a chorus but by the time I get to the end of the album I can’t remember anything about it. It’s strong in the moment—a mid-paced burner, as I mentioned earlier, and a great break after the wildness of “Survey the Sun”—but with so much going on, it struggles to maintain an identity. Similarly, “A Reality Deceased” reminds me of Symbolik, in that it has some awesome, sweeping passages that evoke terrifying heights with intensity. Unfortunately, those passages are all I really take away from it. On the bright side, most everything sounds good; all instruments are clear-sounding and strong (with the exception of the snare drum, which sounds too click-y for my tastes). It allows me to hear pretty much everything going on—Cantu Ignis’s greatest strength but also a potential setback for The Fathomless Dominion.
I love the sound that Cantu Ignis have here; I love the way The Fathomless Dominion makes me feel. There are many great moments throughout a mere thirty-seven minutes, and a rock-solid foundation of modern melodeath goodness. The Fathomless Dominion is a great example of art that shows a little too much of a good thing. The good news is that all of it is good—I can only imagine that the next one will be even better.
Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 5 | Format Reviewed: 1,441 kbps WAV
Label: Self-release
Websites: cantuignis.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/Cantu-Ignis
Releases Worldwide: February 14th, 2025
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