July 2026 Featured Release - The Sphere Edition

So just like that we find that a new month is upon us which of course means that we’ll be nominating a brand new monthly feature release for each clan. This essentially means that we’re asking you to rate, review & discuss our chosen features for no other reason than because we enjoy the process & banter. We’re really looking forward to hearing your thoughts on our chosen releases so don’t be shy.

This month's feature release for The Sphere, nominated by me (Shadowdoom9 (Andi)), is the brand-new 7th album by Finnish industrial/cyber metalcore band Fear of Domination, Katharsis. I wanted to feature a Sphere album that just came out this year, but I haven't really found a lot of brand-new industrial metal releases lately, and the new Fear of Domination album is literally the only release of the genre from this year that I've checked out so far. Still it's a solid offering that continues the trance-filled melodic metalcore sound from their VI: Revolution, while bringing back their earlier industrial/cyber metal side.

https://metal.academy/releases/65578

Here's my review summary:

It's not often for a band to last two decades with most of the members intact since the beginning. 4 of the 7 members of Fear of Domination have stayed together for all of their albums; male vocalist Saku Solin, bassist Lauri Ojanen, and guitarists Jan-Erik Kari and Johannes Niemi. One other longtime member, keyboardist Lasse Raelahti joined the band in 2012. And now there are two new members for a new album in a new era, with Katharsis marking the debut of female vocalist Jessica Salmi and drummer Anton Nisonen. The verses screamed by both vocalists are in a great contrast with the catchy sung choruses for a well-balanced composition. The riffing attacks with headbanging rhythm, while the dancey keyboards have you moving to the beat. Fear of Domination still have their strong talent in Katharsis, with energetic songs worth both dancing and headbanging to. Despite a couple slight struggles somewhere, there's hope for their music to make a strong global impact....

4/5

Recommended tracks: "Alone", "Imposter", "Last Words", "All as One", "Endgame"

For fans of: Amaranthe, Turmion Katilot, A Dark Halo