Man, some places in Europe are really, really stuck in the 80s, and by 80s we mean 80s America.  How is this possible?  Did WWII do that much cultural damage?  Was Italy really that devastated from Anzio, sent back into the past and still waiting to catch up to this day, off by about twenty years?  Apparently this is the case, because Italian thrashers Ancient Dome are putting on the image like MTV's still showing videos from Anthrax.  Though their hair might not be enough to trip on, they certainly are pulling out the faded jeans and jeans jackets.  Thankfully their balls aren't ready to burst forth into the waiting, motor oil-lubricated hand of some female fan, but they're still rubbing us the wrong way.  Sometimes, Testament worship is a really, really bad thing.

First off, what's the band name about?  Not trying to offend here really, but Ancient Dome?  What does that mean?  Are you talking about the Pantheon or something?  Whatever, let's just ignore that part.  Perception of This World is thrash revival, plain and simple.  The cover art somehow looks like it was made in the 80s in spite of modern photoshop technology, with the usual scene of societal decay what-not and epic volcanoes that exist in a scientifically and geographically impossible state in front of a ruined Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower encased in ice.  These guys really don't waste any time rocking out the thrash progressions from the get go.  As soon as Perception of This World starts you can pretty much anticipate every chord progression, beat, singing cue, and riff.  Good thing is the recording quality is clean, though the drums sound a bit meek.  But, this time around, that's not where you want to be.  Now and then expecting the expected is fine, but we still need to be a surprised a little.

Ancient Dome's sound is best described as totally derivative.  There's really nothing here to distinguish them from any other 80s thrash act, and since we're living thirty years in the future, that's probably bad.  The usual sweeps, the usual chugging kick drum, the usual full-band singing at critical moments, you might as well just pull out Testament over the past two decades, because that's exactly what this is.  There's nothing here to distinguish Ancient Dome from anyone else.  You'd expect maybe some sort of Italian bent, something ethnic and cool, but there's just nothing, it's exactly what you think it is, there's barely a way to tell it's a different band.  The only thing that's going to through you for a loop is the Limp Bizkitesque band cartoon in the middle of the fold-out.  "Once upon a time, there was a band far way from normal habits, lost in time and space..." begins the comic.  These guys are definitely stuck in time, not so sure about the space.  It's also pretty doubtful that they're "reaching new levels step by step", unless by steps you mean steps already taken.  They'll figure out the "new levels" later.

Perception of This World is a clear display of musical ability, aside from the strained singing, but the problem is it just doesn't do anything.  They could have easily repackaged pretty much any thrash album from the 80s that we've all forgotten and it wouldn't even make a difference.  The only thing this album has going for it is the hilarious band photo.  Really, find this if you can.  You got the bass player staring at the rhythm guitarist/vocalist's ass, the vocalist wearing faded, ripped jeans, the drummer dressed like he's metalcore while staring into space, and the lead guitarist with camo shorts that are too short and a polo with the biggest collar in the world.  They got most of the thrash presentation and sound down, regardless of its semblance to everything else on the planet, but they need to work a little bit on the image.  If you're going to do this, grow that hair out until it affects your ability to walk, tighten up those jeans, and put on some fishnet wife beaters while you're at it.

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Written by Arkus

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