Author: Rok Klemše
Artist: Dominici
Label: Inside Out Records
Release: 2008
Who could have guessed that Charlie Dominici would make such a glorious return to the music map after his long absence? Hardly anyone, since after leaving Dream Theater following their first album When Dream and Day Unite, Charlie practically vanished off the face of the earth. Three years ago, though, he quietly slipped back onto the scene with the first part of the O3 trilogy. As quiet and free of media spotlights as his comeback was, so was the album: just vocals, guitar and harmonica. An unexpected but surprising move for someone who started out in what’s probably the biggest progressive metal band in the world today. But the wild blood wouldn’t let Dominici rest, and for the follow-up he gathered a very solid band around him, and the second part turned out way better than the first. Three years later, the epic trilogy is finally wrapping up, and it’s a damn worthy ending. O3 A Trilogy Part 3 is the strongest and most convincing chapter of the story, both instrumentally and vocally.
The third part picks up where its predecessor left off – with murky, dark and morbid prospects for humankind. Dominici, with a truly convincing voice, narrates this gloomy tale brilliantly, and on the surface it has no happy ending. Story-wise, O3 is a real treat for all the conspiracy theorists out there: extraterrestrial beings create a group of terrorists who, with a biological weapon of unimaginable destructive power, wipe every trace of human life off the face of the Earth. Naturally, only the main hero survives, and his survival works as a kind of allegory for the biblical destruction of a corrupted humanity and its resurrection with a new Genesis. And even if the story doesn’t grab you, Charlie proves musically that he has risen from the dead and is damn well alive. Dominici has never sounded this good vocally, whether it’s the introspective, melancholic verses of the ballad So Help Me God or the explosive, pompous vocals of prog metal wrecking balls like the opener King of Terror. Dominici is powerful, raspy, sorrowful, joyful, and the emotions he paints with his voice so effortlessly lodge themselves in your ears before you know it. For a truly worthy finale to the trilogy, Dominici also has his band to thank. They sound a step better than on the previous record, but above all they’re stronger, even tighter and far more inventive. Any hint of Dream Theater copycatting is off the table here, since the guys don’t dive into technical wankery, even though guitarist Brian Maillard sprays plenty of sweep solos and a good dose of pompous staccato riffing around. But his fingers flow just as nicely over the many acoustic guitar patterns, which are complemented mostly by mystical, atmospheric and epic keyboards. Add an exceptionally tight rhythm section with colorful drumming and fantastic bass groove, and what stands before us is one of the most promising new lineups in progressive metal.
The trilogy is complete, and it’s living proof that Dominici has woken up from his years-long slumber and stretched his joints and bones to great effect. O3 part three is a gourmet musical treat from start to finish, and if Dominici keeps going in this style, a new star has lit up on the progressive metal map.
Lineup
Charlie Dominici – vocals
Brian Maillard – guitar
Americo Rigoldi – keyboards
Riccardo “eRik“ Atzeni – bass
Yan Maillard – drums
Track list
1. King Of Terror 07:52
2. March Into Hell 05:58
3. So Help Me God 04:24
4. Liquid Lightning 05:23
5. Enemies Of God 10:07
6. Revelation 06:57
7. Hell On Earth 05:11
8. Genesis 10:50
