FROM THE CRYPTS - CELEBRATING PAST ALBUM RELEASES in the HISTORY of HARD ROCK & HEAVY METAL…
On October 26, 2018, Death Metal Supergroup Bloodbath released their fifth full-length studio album The Arrow Of Satan Is Drawn via Peaceville Records. It is the only album to feature guitarist Joakim Karlsson.
In a 2017 interview with Metal Wani, frontman Nick Holmes (also of Paradise Lost) stated that the band were entering the studio in the end of January of 2018 to record the follow-up to Grand Morbid Funeral. The recording process had officially concluded on July 23, 2018, with hints at featuring "legendary" guests on the album. On August 17, 2018, the band had confirmed The Arrow of Satan Is Drawn as the title of their new album for a October 26 release via Peaceville. A lyric video for the first single of the album Bloodicide, which featured Jeff Walker of Carcass, John Walker of Cancer and Karl Willetts of Memoriam and formerly of Bolt Thrower, was available for streaming on September 13, 2018. On October 18, 2018, the band released a music video for the song Chainsaw Lullaby.
Guitarist Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström commented on The Arrow of Satan Is Drawn; “What are we presenting with this album? Humanity's unfaltering march prone towards downfall. The threat to this world isn't from far beyond the sun, the enemy is right here, within the walls. Only the god of emptiness will survive us all. The arrow of Satan is drawn! It wasn't deliberately planned to be just British guests, but as it randomly turned out that way, it became a really cool feat! Nick [Holmes], Jeff, Karl and John are all legends respectively within the UK death metal scene and we're proud to bring them all together on our little old school soiree to tribute the days of old.”
Singles from the album:
1. Bloodicide - Released: September 13, 2018
2. Chainsaw Lullaby - Released: October 18, 2018
Critical Reception:
The album received very good reviews, with Dan Southall from loudmag.com.au stating; “This album is exactly what you should have come to expect from Bloodbath by now, with the extra weight of their current vocalist and his obvious passion for this form of vocal outlet adding to the, ahem, joy listening this band and their music can bring. There are only a handful of bands left that really have the ability to play metal like this that feels simultaneously fresh and old within a couple of riffs, and they might just currently be the best at it. The Arrow of Satan is Drawn, and aimed towards you.”
While Metal Hammer’s Sebastian Kessler wrote; “The British guest in particular, Paradise Lost singer “Old” Nick Holmes, really blossoms and spits poison and bile. The invigorating effect his Bloodbath excursions had on his own band can be heard on their last albums - and nourishes the hope that Jonas Renkse (bass) and Anders Nyström will soon start again with Katatonia, similarly refreshed. Until then, Bloodbath promise a lot of listening fun - the soundcheck victory in an extremely release-rich month speaks for itself. Delicious genre food!”
Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells
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