Continuing with "supergroup" Bloodbath. I was always cynical about supergroups and can't think of any who I thought were super. One thing I had to do was get a look at the roster changes. A single view, not clicking back and forth, which would require more memory than this brainiac has installed. They look quite stable over a twenty year period. Just like a real group! Starting out with the debut. One thing about the production on albums 1-6 is they're DR5. Unfortunate but otherwise I think the albums sound pretty good. Another thing is the album art 1-5 is pretty bad. Resurrection Through Carnage (2002) Anders Nyström Guitars, Vocals (backing) Jonas Renkse Bass, Vocals (backing) Dan Swanö Drums, Vocals (backing) Mikael Åkerfeldt Vocals (lead) 1. - "Ways to the Grave" - 0:00 2. - "So You Die" - 4:17 3. - "Mass Strangulation" - 7:35 4. - "Death Delirium" - 11:09 5. - "Buried by the Dead" - 16:20 6. - "The Soulcollector" - 19:35 7. - "Bathe in Blood" - 23:16 8. - "Trail of Insects" - 27:29 9. - "Like Fire" - 32:07 10. - "Cry My Name" - 36:40 Nightmares Made Flesh (2004) Anders Nyström Guitars, Bass, Vocals (backing), Lyrics (tracks 1, 4, 8, 10), Songwriting (tracks 1, 4, 8, 10) Jonas Renkse Bass, Guitars, Vocals (backing), Lyrics (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, 12), Songwriting (tracks 3, 5, 7, 12) Dan Swanö Guitars, Bass, Vocals (backing), Lyrics (tracks 2, 6, 9, 11), Songwriting (tracks 2, 6, 9, 11) Martin Axenrot Drums Peter Tägtgren Vocals (lead) The Fathomless Mastery (2008) Anders Nyström Guitars, Songwriting (tracks 1, 5, 10), Lyrics (tracks 1, 5, 10) Jonas Renkse Bass, Songwriting (tracks 2, 3, 6, 8, 11), Lyrics (tracks 2, 3, 6, 8, 11) Martin Axenrot Drums Mikael Åkerfeldt Vocals, Lyrics (tracks 4, 7, 9) Per Eriksson Guitars, Songwriting (tracks 4, 7, 9) Grand Morbid Funeral (2014) Anders Nyström Guitars, Songwriting (tracks 2, 7, 9, 11), Lyrics (tracks 2, 11) Jonas Renkse Bass, Songwriting (tracks 1, 4, 6, 8), Lyrics (tracks 1, 4, 6, 8) Martin Axenrot Drums Per Eriksson Guitars, Songwriting (tracks 3, 5, 10), Lyrics (tracks 3, 5, 10) Nick Holmes Vocals, Lyrics (tracks 7, 9) The Arrow of Satan Is Drawn (2018) Anders Nyström Guitars, Songwriting (track 2, 5, 7, 10), Lyrics (tracks 5, 10) Jonas Renkse Bass, Songwriting (tracks 1, 4, 6, 8), Lyrics (tracks 1, 4, 6, 8) Martin Axenrot Drums Nick Holmes Vocals, Lyrics (tracks 2, 7, 9, 12) Joakim Karlsson Guitars, Songwriting (tracks 3, 9, 11, 12), Lyrics (tracks 3, 11)
Survival of the Sickest (2022) Anders Nyström Guitars Jonas Renkse Bass Martin Axenrot Drums Nick Holmes Vocals Tomas Åkvik Guitars
Blayne tells us what to buy this month. I am really hoping the Sonja release holds up, as I loved Nylon Nights, which I posted several pages back. That one became an ear worm for me.
I liked the sounds of all five albums. With that art I'll go with the Eyetalians. Sept 19 Convergence, by Miscreance
Also taking a three album detour with Rogga Johansson's Demiurg. Breath of the Demiurg (2007) The Hate Chamber (2008) Slakthus Gamleby (2010)
I haven't listened to much of Demiurg just yet but I was seduced by the "Entombed" love with this intro. I think this fun bopper of a song might have had a thumping conclusion before 3:00. Fun song. 2008
In Flames single #3 from their upcoming album "Foregone" out Feb 10-2023. So far so good, it's been a long time that anything from this band caught my ear.
^^^^^^^^^^^listened to is this morn while working, if you liked their last couple, you'll like this one. reissue of this classic came out today
Seven Churches Studio album by Possessed Released October 16, 1985 Recorded March 30 – April 5, 1985 Genre Death metal, thrash metal Length 39:21 Label Relativity/Combat, Roadrunner Producer Randy Burns
Mother of Graves release another single. These guys are very good at mixing soft and heavier passages. I didn't notice their earlier release was an EP and this is their debut. Oct 14 Where the Shadows Adorn, by Mother of Graves "Wise Blood Records is proud to present "Where the Shadows Adorn," the new album from Melodic Death/Doom guardians Mother of Graves. The album is a masterpiece of crushing darkness and exquisite gloom, mastered by death metal legend Dan Swanö (Edge of Sanity, Bloodbath). Their debut EP In Somber Dreams received acclaim from Decibel Magazine, with Chris Dick calling it “the stuff of melodic (the dark and evil kind) legend.” Jon Rosenthal of Invisible Oranges commented, “Katatonia's lineage is felt here, but Mother of Graves doesn't practice the art of abject mirroring. [They are] distinctly heavier, with an ear for keyboard-laden atmospherics.” The EP’s title track was also featured on the Metal Blade Records compilation Metal Massacre XV, along with Midnight, Ripped to Shreds, and Temple of Void. Named after a mythological Latvian protector of cemeteries (Kapu māte), Mother of Graves' music honors the memory of a fallen bandmate. "Where the Shadows Adorn" explores mortality and loss in every growl and crestfallen note. Founding guitarists Chris Morrison and Ben Sandman—who also recorded and mixed the record—fill the album with mournful melodies. As Morrison summarizes, “We wanted to write songs that were more melodic, heavier, darker, and memorable.” The result is an album that perfectly matches the stunning cover painting by Paolo Girardi. Brandon Howe’s acclaimed growls resonate with riveting dark poetry. The album is catharsis through creation. The foundation of old school death/doom is embellished with black blossoms of goth rock and evocative keyboards. Lyrically, the songs were borne from tragedy and pandemic isolation. “Even after the world began to open back up, I still preferred and chased solitude,” Howe shares. “I didn’t mind the quiet, or the alone time, but it also made it easy to get trapped in your thoughts more often than usual. To really reflect on and face the deepest pits of the self. There became a certain comfort and familiarity in the darkness of things. I suppose you could say “Where the Shadows Adorn” was a place where I found my solace.”
Now playing. Another band mixing the heavy with the delicate. At 59:53 it's long but thankfully musically varied throughout. Hoping it grows on me. Woe, by An Abstract Illusion
And the traditional heavy metal palate cleanse. Dreamkiller, by Sumerlands OT but that looks like a "special military operation" vehicle.
I still can't believe the guitarist on this went on to be in Primus. I gotta listen to this one next week, their new vocalist is my current fave, the guy from Magic Circle, who I believe has broken up. Another trad fave of mine, Screamer have a new single out and new disc coming Jan 13
Got this one in a blind buy mystery box from a distro years ago. Good stuff. On a different note got to see Maiden with my wife and son (4th time for me but 1st for them) on Thursday. Great time. Bourbon, poker, and both the new Clutch and Behemoth tomorrow for me. Good times.
