BLOODBOUND - review added 4th March 2011
Album Review: Unholy Cross (2011)
For fans of: Power Metal... and burning crosses
Swedish power metal band Bloodbound have been around since mid-2004. They already have three albums and enough line-up changes to confuses Einstein under their belts.
Debut "Nosferatu" (2006) featured the dulcit tones of Urban Breed (Tad Morose), "Book Of The Dead" (2007) featured none other than Michael Bormann (Jaded Heart), and for "Tabula Rasa" (2009) it was back with Urban Breed again. Now for 2011's "Unholy Cross" we get yet another singer in the shape of Dawn Of Silence front man Patrik "Pata" Johansson.
Joining Patrik on the album are Tomas Olsson and Henrik Olsson on guitars, Anders Broman on bass, Fredrik Bergh on keyboards, and Pelle Akerlind on drums. "Unholy Cross" sees Jonas Kjellgren (Sonic Syndicate, Scar Symmetry) taking care of mixing and mastering.
The sound is certainly power metal orientated, but there are thrashy and modern elements in there too, and the overall effect is often more akin to straight-ahead heavy metal. The fact Patrik's voice has more than a passing resemblance to Bruce Dickinson only serves to heighten that feeling. The musicianship is pretty damn good and has plenty of variety from screaming solos and speedy riffs, to thunderous drum interludes and rattling bass. The keyboards are perhaps a tad understated, but without them the music wouldn't sound as good as it does.
Best moments include the nicely-heavy, achingly catchy 'Drop The Bomb', the slower 'The Ones We Left Behind', the very-Iron-Maiden-esque 'In For The Kill' (especially the thrash section), and the near-ballad 'Brothers Of War'.
In Summation:
This a good if unexceptional take on power/heavy metal. A lot of the album is music you've heard a thousand times before, but the great performances and occasional flashes of genius make it a worthwhile purchase.
Entertainment/Enjoyment:
Musicianship:
Vocals:
Song Writing:
Production:
Overall (Not An Average Of The Above):
Check out... 'Drop The Bomb'
Track List:
01. Moria
02. Drop The Bomb
03. The Ones We Left Behind
04. Reflections Of Evil
05. In For The Kill
06. Together We Fight
07. The Dark Side Of Life
08. Brothers Of War
09. Message From Hell
10. In The Dead Of Night
11. Unholy Cross
Label: AFM Records
Artist's website(s): Bloodbound | MySpace
