Bloodbath is a brutal death metal supergroup from Stockholm, Sweden that formed in 2000. The original band line up included Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth on vocals, Anders Nyström of Katatonia and Diabolical Masquerade on guitars, Jonas Renkse of Katatonia and October Tide on bass, and Dan Swanö of Edge Of Sanity and Nightingale (among others) on drums. The band recorded their first, three song EP,
Breeding Death in 2000, only to follow up with the monstrous first full length album
Resurrection Through Carnage two years later. Mikael Åkerfeldt then left the band for personal reasons, resulting in the recruiting of Hypocrisy (among others) frontman Peter Tägtgren. Dan Swanö then switched to playing guitar instead of drums, and Martin Axenrot of Witchery and Satanic Slaughter took over as lead skins man. The band then released their scorching second album,
Nightmares Made Flesh in Europe 2004. The album didn’t reach the US until early 2005, in which the band changed the cover art and tacked on two demos from their EP to the end of it, as a special treat. Peter Tägtgren eventually left the band due to "conflicting schedules", and the band is now in search of a new vocalist, this time for an unknown, to take the lead of the blood loving death band. This album,
Resurrection Through Carnage, is a true example of the blunt fury and anger that defines death metal. It is also apparent on the album that each member of Bloodbath joined the band for the sole sake of letting lose from their ‘day jobs’ in their other bands, being a splatter-fest of gore loving lyrics and crunchy guitar work that trend in the realm of gore metal (Cannibal Corpse, Cattle Decapitation, old Carcass etc.).
The album kicks off with
Ways To The Grave, an album defining number fueled with brutal death vocals, blood written lyrics, heavy blast beats, and crunchy guitar work. The song starts off with an ascending guitar riff and blast beats that are met with some heavy bass work only to burst into an aura of noisy roars and slashes at the guitar. A very straight forward song, as are most of the songs on the album. Almost immediately it becomes apparent with the song that Mikael Åkerfeldt’s brutal death growls are what dominate the album and give it it’s overall intensity. The most catchiest of the songs on the album,
So You Die follows with some heavy guitar riffage and some quick drum work followed by some hellish screams. The song title bluntly describes the lyrics that Mikael Åkerfeldt belch out throughout. The constant repetition of the chorus is what makes the song catchy, along with some guitar melodies mixed in with the heavily distorted riffs. Probably one of the best songs on the album all together.
Mass Strangulation begins with a fast drum roll that goes into a constant guitar riff that stays throughout most of the song. Another song greatly dominated by the vocals, but a lot of guitar melody in the background gives the song a great presence. Lyrically though, as the song title hints to, the song is a great bore of more Cannibal Corpse inspired ‘kill them all’ lyrics.
Death Delirium is a much more darker song then the previous, with a very moody opening riff and dark atmospheres, the song then goes into some heavy blast beats. Another one of the better songs on the album, this time in partial to the music itself, with a much cleaner guitar sound along with some wicked guitar soloing and catchy riffs mixed with some brutal blast beats. The song also has some great vocal performances by our beloved Opeth frontman.
Buried By The Dead returns the music to it’s crunchy sound, starting with an upbeat riff and some bouncing vocals following along, the song then breaks down into a near silence, only to return to more vicious blast beats and roars. Probably the most repetitive and boring track on the album in practically every way. Another dark, atmospheric song, with cleaner guitar sounds, is
The Soulcollector, which begins with riffs similar to that of
Death Delirium. The riffs are a bit more repetitive on this song, but the atmosphere it gives works with the brutal vocals and devastating feel. Mikael Åkerfeldt gives some more belch growling as
Bathe In Blood kicks off. The song is more of a recycled version of other tracks on the album, with very repetitive vocals and ever changing guitar riffs that sound like mixes of other songs on the album. Overall it’s a good song, but rather choppy and above average at best.
One of the most dynamic tracks on the album is
Trial Of Insects, with apocalyptic sounding riffs and devastating blast beats along with some brutal vocals and some great melodic breakdowns. The song also has some very atmospheric an dark guitar solos that give the song a very dynamic feel and has a very strong presence even as it fades out.
Like Fire is another typical chugging song. The song is not very fast but has some powerful chugging riffs throughout and some great vocal work as well. Guitar solos also fuel every breakdown in the song. One of the better tracks on the album, though not a great standout amongst others. The album ends with
Cry My Name, which has a very dynamic guitar intro and keyboard backdrop as well. The song then goes into the typical grunts and blast beats and riffs that have been fueling the album throughout. One of the better songs on the album, and also has one of the best solos tacked on to it somewhere in the midst of it’s brutal atmosphere. Overall the album is an essential for any fan of Mikael Åkerfeldt and Opeth’s heavier side or any fan of brutal death metal/ gore metal in general.
Pros
-- Mikael Åkerfeldt is on vocals (although I personal prefer Peter Tägtgren’s work with the band)
-- Has some very catchy and dark atmospheres scattered through out.
-- Some amazing drum work through out by Dan Swanö.
Cons
-- A very crunchy, distorted guitar sound makes a lot of the songs rather annoying after awhile musically.
-- Rather poor lyrics (like most gore metal).
-- Not a lot of variety amongst tracks.
Track Listing
1. Ways To The Grave (4/5)
2. So You Die (5/5)
3. Mass Strangulation (4.5/5)
4. Death Delirium (5/5)
5. Buried By The Dead (3.5/5)
6. The Soulcollector (4/5)
7. Bathe In Blood (3.5/5)
8. Trail Of Insects (4.5/5)
9. Like Fire (4/5)
10. Cry My Name (4.5/5)
