Blood Ceremony
Blood Ceremony (Reissue)
8
Originally released in 2008 via Rise Above Records, Blood Ceremony's self-titled debut was recently released on Metal Blade to both celebrate the band's recently signing to the label and to remedy the fact that the album had gone out of print. The version of Blood Ceremony that Metal Blade is offering is exactly the same as what you would have received had you bought the album upon its initial release, which means its probably not worth buying again. However, if you've never experienced Blood Ceremony's rollicking, mystical brand of heavy metal? So worth it.
Cut from a similar cloth, but dyed in an entirely different bath of colors as a band like Burning Saviours, the pleasure of Blood Ceremony lies in its ability to do two distinct things extremely well and to integrate those talents gracefully. This is a dark and at times ponderous album, but it also swings heavy as balls. And It is an excellent album because Blood Ceremony knows when to simmer and when to swing.
As a unit, Blood Ceremony is as tight as you'd want a band that rocks so loosely to be, but vocalist/flutist Alia O'Brien deserves some special mention for truly leading this band. O'Brien has a very-good-but-not-great-voice, which is another way of saying that she delivers her parts like a pro without getting caught up in embellishments. She sounds like a human being who is enjoying her work--ring-leading both upbeat rompers like "I'm Coming With You" and the navigating the bleary-eyed come down of "Into the Coven." She's the most important member of the band because she's got the most important job. Blood Ceremony takes some turns, from dark to light and back again, and O'Brien's the one making sure you never see the seams.
I think what I most enjoy about this album is that I can't quite put a finger on exactly what type of album it is. It's not entirely the wandering doom movements of the "Rare Lord," nor is it the snappy lick-rock that cuts across the very same track, bringing it to life. It's both. And neither style suffers as a result of the other. Blood Ceremony is, in a fact, sort of party. But its also one of those parties that somebody's going to maybe not wake up from.
If you've never heard Blood Ceremony, this re-release is great news for you, especially if you're a fan of this style of analog heavy rock. If you already purchased Blood Ceremony, well, this re-release is good news for you too, as it means Metal Blade is taking the effort to invest in this damned good band and their future, which will undoubtedly produce some more quality records.
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