200 copies on black vinyl, 150 copies on highlighter yellow vinyl and 150 copies half blue / half yellow Swedish Flag Edition!
Originally only available in a collectable 2LP set, THE CRYPT is honored to again reissue the classic debut album "The Source Of Dominion" from Sweden's AUTHORIZE as a standalone vinyl for the first time on wax!
This LP features features the original Per Stjernstrom cover painting supplied by the band as well as lyrics, classic interviews, liner notes and exclusive band photos with the original layout elements designed after the original 1991 Putrefaction Records CD with attention to detail, even down to the logo and typeface for a touch of nostalgia.
Sweden’s AUTHORIZE may not have enjoyed the same level of recognition as their more prominent countrymen, but The Source of Dominion stands tall as a criminally overlooked gem in the early Scandinavian death metal canon. Originally released in 1991, this lone full-length captures a raw and compelling snapshot of a band firing on all cylinders, merging guttural brutality with eerie melodic undercurrents and a cavernous atmosphere that foreshadowed the darker Swedish sounds yet to come.
What sets AUTHORIZE apart is their unorthodox approach to the then-solidifying Swedish death metal formula. While the Sunlight Studios crunch is present, it’s tempered by a gloomier, almost otherworldly production quality that lends the album a chilling and desolate feel. Tracks like “The Leader” and “Dark Sorcery” churn with downtuned menace, while others showcase a more dynamic pacing, weaving between doom-laden passages and frantic tremolo assaults. The vocals are suitably deep and bestial, yet remain intelligible enough to complement the weighty lyrical themes.
Despite its brevity, The Source of Dominion wastes no time. Its concise songwriting and unrelenting execution make for a tight and memorable listen. There's a clear sense that AUTHORIZE were pushing to carve their own identity amid a scene still in its infancy, and the result is a release that, while grounded in tradition, also feels uniquely theirs.
Decades later, the album still holds up — not only as a fascinating relic of the early '90s death metal underground, but as a testament to AUTHORIZE’s overlooked contribution to the Swedish scene. For fans of death metal that leans into the murky, unpolished depths without sacrificing clarity or intent, The Source of Dominion deserves a rediscovery.
