Had I spent time with this when it first arrived in the last quarter of 2008, it would have been worth at least an honorable mention in my year-end list. "Domination and Servitude" from New England's COLD NORTHERN VENGEANCE is one of the more imaginative efforts from the USBM scene, at least among those that are mindful of keeping one foot just inside the traditional circle, then expanding the sound into more experimental terrain.

And yet, the work of Heathen (Shaman, guitars, vocals, keys, bass) and Gemini (lead guitars, electric bass guitar, Hammond organ, piano, battery) is not in league with the noise terrorists, the shoe gazers, or the BM suicide squads. The sounds are in fact dark and morose and the temperatures well below freezing, but amidst the more traditional black metal segments, the songs are often quite tuneful and the band weaves a good deal of folk into its dense tapestry. A song like "A Dangerous Wayfaring" sports a catchy melody, alternating between British goth tones and grittier BM segments, those same vibes returning on "Communion". An even more infectious melody is found on standout track "Heathen, Heretic, Scapegoat", which is quite similar to the kind of sing-along folk heard on WINTERFYLLETH's "The Ghost of Heritage". It is just a great song, no matter how you decide to dissect it. The act then smoothly incorporates a mechanical/industrial delivery into the cold 'n trippy "The By-Paths to Chaos" and a pristine piano performance during "The Black Silence". That the disparate elements flow so seamlessly from track to track attests to the duo's obvious attention to arrangement detail and overall songwriting acumen.

The difference between COLD NORTHERN VENGEANGE and some similarly ambitious acts is that the New Englanders are about much more than the mere creation of atmosphere for atmosphere's sake. Each note played is infinitely meaningful to the creation of the larger work, one that is inventive, yet hardly esoteric. COLD NORTHERN VENGEANCE may very well be the best-kept secret of the USBM scene. That is likely to change if the act continues to release albums like "Domination and Servitude".