Bloodbath - Grand Morbid Funeral Review

      After listening to this album, there is no longer any reason to question the choice of Nick Holmes on vocals. While doubts were raised regarding whether the vocalist best known for his work with Paradise Lost would be a fitting contributor to what is ultimately a death metal supergroup, those doubts can justifiably be erased. While noticeably  different from the vocals of predecessors Mikael Åkerfeldt and Peter Tägtgren, Holmes proves that he can adapt to the style of vocals required for a Bloodbath album. Simply put, the vocals work.

Opening the album with ‘Let The Stillborn Come To Me’, Bloodbath immediately provides an assault on the eardrums. The entire album provides exactly what a Bloodbath fan would hope for: namely well orchestrated, technical precision. After all, this is a band containing musicians with pretty impressive resumes. Grand Morbid Funeral changes tempo in the right places. The old-school death metal influences are evident (as they always are on Bloodbath releases). While Grand Morbid Funeral certainly won’t change your mind if you do not already like death metal, it is a solid representation of the genre. It’s hard, heavy and fast, overall a good listen. 

Thoughts and Previews

I thought I'd throw up a quick post regarding a few of the items I am hoping to work on or talk about in the next while. I have not had much time to write lately due to an overwhelming amount of other commitments; namely my continuing post-secondary education.

Tomorrow I will hopefully be picking up a copy of this:

A review should follow sometime shortly thereafter.

Speaking of reviews, there are several albums that I have enjoyed this previous year for which I have not completed a review, and for which I would like to review. Hopefully at least a few of these see completion.

I have a few other ideas of articles I would like to write, but they require some more careful thought and a bit of preparation. Perhaps one or two of them will see the light of day.

Ensiferum has announced that they have completed work on a new album, scheduled for a February 2015 release. With this, new tracks should be released online, which I will be checking out. The first three Ensiferum albums are, by far, my favourites. 'From Afar' was pretty decent, but 'Unsung Heroes' began to venture into territory I was not personally a fan of. We shall see what this new album, titled 'One Man Army', holds in store. I do like the new look that the band has posted on their Facebook page though:

More from Bloodbath

An interview with new Bloodbath vocalist Nick Holmes:

http://www.steelforbrains.com/post/100239869552/nick-holmes


This interview very briefly touches on some interesting points. The conversation regarding the internet and the proliferation of metal through this medium is a topic that comes up quite often in interviews. Rightfully so, since it is undeniably something that has changed the dynamic of how people perceive music, discover new music and stay informed about favourite artists. Personally, this is something I find interesting and that I have several (sometimes conflicting) opinions on. But that discussion is for a different day. In the meantime, take a quick look at the interview if you're interested in the upcoming Bloodbath release and some insight from Nick Holmes.

Bloodbath has also released another track from 'Grand Morbid Funeral', titled "Famine of God's Word". I'm still getting used to Nick Holmes' vocals with this band and thus haven't yet formed an opinion of whether I really like them, or whether they're just okay. That being said, the rest of the track is definitely heavy and to my liking. I'm still looking forward to this album, and forming a better impression once I give the entire thing a few listens.

Listen to "Famine of God's Word" here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtIA0IF9hK0

Bloodbath - "Unite In Pain"

Within the last twenty-four hours, Bloodbath has released “Unite In Pain”, a track off their upcoming release titled ‘Grand Morbid Funeral’. Within the last ten days, they also announced their new vocalist, which had been cause for much speculation. Revealed as Nick Holmes of Paradise Lost, he provides the vocals on the upcoming album. Former Bloodbath vocalists Mikael Åkerfeldt and Peter Tägtgren have left big shoes to fill as both are widely considered to be masters of the genre. Bloodbath is, after all, a band filled with stellar musicians. 

While I’m not familiar with Paradise Lost, other than having witnessed an excellent set at a festival, I may have to look into their earliest releases which fall into the death metal style for comparison. While I am not yet quite used to Nick Holmes vocals on this track, after a few listens, I think ‘Grand Morbid Funeral’ could be an album that I will enjoy. Without listening to the entire album though, I am finding it difficult to form a solid opinion of the vocals based off “Unite In Pain”. Perhaps they will grow on me, or perhaps I will feel that the shoes can’t quite be filled. Only time will tell for this one. 

Check out “Unite In Pain”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSv2byt5o6Y

Bloodbath has also made available several pre-order packages for the upcoming album, found here:

http://www.omerch.eu/shop/bloodbath/products.php?cat=4010

Bloodbath: New Album

Like many others, I'm eagerly anticipating this upcoming album release from Bloodbath, titled 'Grand Morbid Funeral'. It appears as though it will be a November release date.

The new vocalist will be announced sometime next week. Either way, if the previous Bloodbath albums are any indication, this will be a good one.

Listening To...

Since I haven't had time lately to write anything interesting, I thought I'd share a few photos of what I have been listening to recently, amongst other albums. (Summer always seems to present so many opportunities for activities other than writing and listening to music). If some of the covers look off-color, they picked up the reflection of the band flags on my wall.