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Bloodbath

Unblessing the Purity (2008)
Europe

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Anchors
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on July 4th 2008

Bloodbath waste no time in letting you know exactly what they’re about -- as soon as the low, guttural screams of vocalist Mikael Akerfeldt are heard over the caustic riffing and calamitous drumming of his bandmates, the frenetic picture comes together.

The Unblessing The Purity EP is an unbridled and unapologetic metal assault, and what the band lacks in variety they make up for in proficient technicality and unwavering power. Simply put, Bloodbath is just the kind of music that will knock you clear on your ass.

Being that there’s only four songs on the EP, the band doesn’t have long to establish their sound, but they make it work. “Blasting the Virgiborn” is an exercise in speed and dexterity; the band changes rhythms and chord progressions on a moments notice, and because they don’t stick to a typical structure, guitarists Anders Nystrom and Per Eriksson have free reign to weave whatever chords they want into the songs' fabric. Often one guitarist will play at a slower, more punishing clip while the other injects speed and different rhythms in the undercurrent. It’s a structure that gets better and more apparent as the EP progresses.

“Sick Salvation” is three rapid-fire minutes where the band seems to play faster and harder as the song progresses, and the faster and harder the band plays the more deep and powerful are Akerfeldt’s screams, only pausing for some slick guitar soloing towards the end of the track.

Without bringing anything new to the table, Bloodbath have put forth a fairly captivating offering. They bring terrific musicianship and a raw power to the table that fans of the genre will no doubt be impressed by, and if this is only a stepping stone into bigger things for the band, those same fans should be extremely excited for what’s to come.

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sugarfull (July 8, 2008)

This isn't nearly as good as the review makes it out to be.If you like this kind of death metal, check out a band called Withered instead.

RoyalWithCheese (July 8, 2008)

I've been breathing since the day I was born and now I work at a grocery store...Ching$ Ching$

mezzy (July 5, 2008)

As an EP, this is fantastic. Good old fashioned death metal brutality.

Good to finally hear Micheal heading this band again, he is easily one of the best vocalists and songwriters alive... and has been noted a few times, one funny bastard!

kevtv (July 5, 2008)

For the uninformed...

Vocalist Mikael Akerfeldt is in Opeth, one of the best bands around, and Akerfeldt is one of the top songwriters alive. Period.

His on-stage banter between Opeth songs is sometimes pretty funny, as someone noted.

punkgato (July 5, 2008)

this ep rules, plain and simple. Awesome old school Swedish death metal with a sweet technical edge! I suppose this won't pass mustard for you folks wetting yourselves over Alkaline Trio and Less Than Jake having new albums out, but folks who like fun metal and not trite washed up pop punk acts should check it out!

sceneupdates (July 5, 2008)

While we're at it, the vocalist of this band is one of the most hilarious dudes ever. Some stolen quotes I found:

"This next song we are gonna play (White Cluster), I hope you like it. If you don't like it, you're fucking retarded"

"What? You want my guitar? Okk here ya go *makes gesture to throw into croud* .. Haha. This is like my second wife, you don't wanna know what I do with this"

I can't be fucked to find better ones.

sceneupdates (July 5, 2008)

I can't actually believe some of the shit people are talking.

mattramone (July 5, 2008)

I'm guessing either way they're really boring and listened to by super serious, humorless dudes in smelly Cave In t-shirts, so it doesn't really matter.

FranklinDelanoBluth (July 5, 2008)

If you want to embarass yourself a third time by getting your stuff wrong, be my guest. Have you ever even heard Opeth man? I'm guessing from the fact you called them post-rock, that would be a resounding "no".

mattramone (July 4, 2008)

o noes, dudes from Opeth?!?!? You must sacrifice me on the alter of boring post-rock!

FranklinDelanoBluth (July 4, 2008)

Wow, what a shocker, people here don't get Bloodbath. This is a sideproject of members of Opeth and Katatonia, so the guy above me who said this is made by idiots, is, in fact, an idiot himself. Word to the wise: know what you're knocking before you knock it. Dink.

kvzuky (July 4, 2008)

Bloodbath and beyond > bloodbath

mattramone (July 4, 2008)

Based on the name, title, and cover art alone, I'm guessing this is by and for retards.