ALBUM REVIEW: Malignant Dominion – Cognizance

Despite being a unit since 2012 COGNIZANCE haven’t quite received the amount of recognition they rightly deserve. They are hoping this will change with the release of their much anticipated debut full length entitled Malignant Dominion which is due for release on September 6th via Prosthetic Records. Does this release have what it takes to propel them into the higher tiers of the death metal scene?

Nocturnal Emission doesn’t mess about easing you in, jarring riffs slam you right in the face almost instantly accompanied by frantic flourishes of drumming. A Lesson Through Sickness quickly follows as sharp growls and a dark atmosphere loom over the track. Waves of technical riffing will leave you feeling disorientated as impactful bass lines cut through the carnage. The Organic Citadel possesses a lot of catchy, addictive elements with shifts of pace to keep you on your toes. Impressive solo work makes its presence felt before making way for further heavy hitting instrumentation.

Malignant Dominion comes storming out of the gates with unforgiving blast beats intermingled with twisting and turning riffs. There are a lot of layers to digest in this track but they all slot together seamlessly. The short burst of clean vocals adds an element of melody to the unravelling anarchy. Strychnine Shift provides no respite as intensity pulses throughout. The drums repetitively batter you with rapid fire speed and clinical precision. The groove that seeps into the latter stages of the track is ridiculously enticing. Ether Of The Void ramps up the complexity launching riffs at you with unforgiving ferocity. Despite the sheer bombardment that unfolds the arrangement still harnesses an accessible vibe rather than being too overwhelming.

Unforeseen Consequences kicks into gear with bouncy guitar work and further instances of nitrous injected drum beats. This track commands you to bang your head and it will take a strong will to resist its charms. The unwavering energy gives you an immediate adrenaline boost which neatly tees up the finale. An Existential Battle mesmerizes you with echoing melodies, piles of groove and intricate solo pieces to leave you in a state of euphoria as the album draws to an emphatic close.

Malignant Dominion is equipped with all the qualities you expect from a technical death metal release. The solos hit the mark and don’t overstay their welcome. The drumming never runs out of momentum even for a second and the musicianship throughout is varied enough to maintain your focus throughout. If you weren’t aware of COGNIZANCE before now you will certainly be hearing their name being bounded around a lot more often from this point onward. They’re quickly becoming one of the UK’s shining stars.

Rating: 8/10

Malignant Dominion is set for release on September 6th via Prosthetic Records.

For more information on COGNIZANCE like their official page on Facebook.