Sometimes the simple names are the best but no, a closer look unveils that Blot is actually Sacrifice in olde heathen Scandinavian. Considering this and the fact that the cover of this Norwegian outfit’s debut has a long-ship on it you would probably have guessed correctly that the group play a Viking / pagan style of music. The band consisting of members of In Vain, Mental Disaster and ex Apostasy may at present be unsigned but that does not mean that this is not a work of quality, indeed far from it as I quickly found out on giving it a first play.
Some lush acoustic guitar lines take us in to the ‘Sound Of The Horde’ and the production cleanly sparkles over the glistening shards of the notes which have a folk etched feel about them. The gauntlet smashes down and the track moves into a mid-paced tale of bravado with fighting spirit about it. The vocal rasps fit in neatly and as the drummer steps up the tempo it’s clear that this is going to be the start of a jubilant heathen foray into times and battles past. Following a path that has been well trodden by the likes of everyone from Månegarm to Einherjer, Thyrfing and beyond. Blot manage to keep their sound fresh and invigorating as they steam headlong into the furious dash that is ‘Chains Forever Unbound.’ They break the pace fairly quickly and go into a leaden groove with anger and fury bristling away. There’s a fair bit of Kampfar dynamics to this too which is never a bad thing and it proves the band can cleave away when they feel like and really go for the throat too. Its infectious stuff and you very much find yourself cheering this horde along as the bounce into the title track with a real marriage of melody and brutality at the forefront. You can tell there is plenty of passion about the music and the playing style is intricate and well forged as is the full bloodied production which does make me wonder if they have decided to go it alone without label support as they certainly deserve to have a deal inked in blood on the strength of this.
Fimbulwinter is a song title that is no stranger to us lovers of this style and the might of it is brought to us borne on the wings of one of the most impressive death rasps heard in a long time. Thundering away the band are now crafting a whirlwind of bitterness in their wake and head banging is absolutely mandatory. It’s a bit more of a traditional sing along on ‘Gods Of War’ and it seems like our heroes are having a bit of a break and kicking back after a good day’s slaughter. A Jews harp quirkily fills out the melody twanging away around the hoary singing too. Despite the title ‘Death To All’ is a particularly jolly number with a real trollish sort of bounce about it as well as some pure blood lust swaggering that gives an indication that prisoners are unlikely to be taken live. Finishing things off almost ‘Victory’ is tasted and so it should be as this lot have really impressed and should well be a considered option for any forthcoming events such as the Heidenfest to bring their pillaging raids through Europe. Just to clearly illustrate just what side of things they reside on they tag a pretty damn impressive cover of Dissection classic ‘Where Dead Angels Lie’ on the end. For Victory!
(8/10 Pete Woods)
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