Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Fear of Domination - Call of Schizophrenia (2009)

The more I discover the more melodic cyber/industrial metal bands out there, the more intrigued I've become. There seems to be great impact in electro-industrial keyboards blended with metallic guitars/drums. Fear of Domination has that mix in their industrial melodeath sound that's like Sonic Syndicate if they doubled the amount of synths. That kind of style really speaks to me!

Their debut Call of Schizophrenia is a heavy album, but it's not just heavy in the guitars but also in the keyboards. I enjoy this synth-metal attack and I'm up to checking it out in their next couple albums as well. For now, let's dive into this one...

It starts off clean but heavy in what can be the band's own theme song, "Fear of Domination". You can hear some background cleans by keyboardist Niina Telen. Awesome start! "Mistake in Evolution" speeds things up, though the background keyboards are a little oddly placed. Still, everything else fits like a puzzle, with the keys being the odd piece out. "Clown Industry" has the melodeath of Dethklok while adding in the electro-trance elements The Browning would later have.

"Synthetic Paradise" loses some pointage while the album rating is still intact. The rapid punisher "Punish Y.S." really speeds up as rapid riff-tastic highlight. With some great production in the riffs blended with synths, Norther would probably wish they had more of that. "Intact Girl" is an OK track but one I don't care too much about.

"Perfect World" is perhaps the most Deathstars-sounding track here. Then we have the ambitious title track speeding through heavy verses and a melodic chorus with more of Telen's background cleans. All in perfect synergy! The best song in the melodeath side is "Theatre". The keyboards are more subtle, allowing the guitars and drums to shine. I just wish that song was a little longer. The "Fear of Domination" remix by MC Raaka Pee probably could've been better off elsewhere, but I guess it's fine.

Industrial melodeath may not be for everyone, but it's what makes Fear of Domination such a unique band and something I would never get tired of. Pretty much all songs and enjoyable, though a couple of them could've been slightly better. Recommended for anyone who likes synths in metal!

Favorites: "Fear of Domination", "Clown Industry", "Punish Y.S.", "Call of Schizophrenia", "Theatre"