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Artist: BLOOD
Album: Seppuku
Year: 2008
Blood isn't an unknown name on the Industrialized Metal Webzine anymore. They did two interviews so far with us, as well their two preverious releases ('Psike' and 'G.E.N.') got good reviews from us. Their formula of Rammstein-influenced metal with Spanish lyrics turned out to be a winning combination in their homeland, where they play many shows, as well they got a bunch of nice reviews outside Spain. Their new album, called 'Seppuku', was released recently. It includes 11 tracks, of which 3 are remixes and one is blessed with the subtitle 'bonus track'.
'Progenie' is the first track of the album. It opens with future pop tunes, to be followed by an atmospheric and accessable track with cold keylines and powerful drumming and riffing. Despite this, the song is mostly electronic based through the couplets. 'Vudu' opens with heavy industrial sounds, that gets mixed well with the guitars. After this, we find a bashing industrial metal track with straight to the point midtempo drumming and ditto riffing. The keylines added in the chorus give the song a certain modern and industrial attitude, which fits the song excellently. 'Ion+' is a downtempo track, with atmospheric keylines and recogniseable vocal lines. It includes dance influenced sampling and an ambient influenced intermezzo, as well straight forward riffing and drumming. It's one of the most accessable tracks of the release. 'Exilio' is very electronic based, with an uptempo metal based chorus. The switching from one to another goes surprisingly well, and - together with the industrial sampling all over the track - this makes 'Exilio' my personal favorite song on 'Seppuku'. 'Jibaro' is a strong midtempo industrial metal track, with easy going though straight to the point drumming and riffing and a more gentle and atmospheric chorus. The recogniseable vocal lines give the song a certain accessability, and maybe even a small invitation to bang your head. 'Red de Indra' is again more midtempo, with accessable and bashing drumming mixed with recogniseable riffing and sampling. The vocal lines are mixed in excellently, as well some well added cold keylines. 'Apostol' turns out to be a total unexpected track. Opening with orchestral piano works, the song continues with EBM/future pop musical works and the typically raw vocals of Blood. The song literally includes no guitarwork and slightly drumming. Overall the song is pretty atmospheric. Next up are three remixes. The remix for 'Gotika' is pretty future pop based and invites you to dance. The remix for 'Concienca' is a bit more old school based, though it includes enough electro and future pop influences to send an invitation to you to keep on dancing. The remix for 'Egos' is my favorite one, with its brutal approach and excellent electronic sampling. As well a song to dance on, but a brutal moshpit is as well a possibility. The release ends with a different version of 'Red de Indra', this time as well including female vocals - which is a nice bonus for this release.
Where Blood in the past seemed to have some kind of uncontrollable magnetic affection to bring Rammstein influences into their music, they managed to minimalize it on 'Seppuku'. Of course there are many Rammstein influences hidden within their riffing and programming, but because they manage to mix it with different and well-developed keylines and sampling, it has a different sound all over. As well, where bands such as Rammstein and Oomph! decide to add more wave to their music and to remove more and more of the metal touch, Blood does exactly the opposite, which is a blessing as well. It shows that Blood is more and more developing their own style, which is a great thing of course.
As well, 'Seppuku' is Blood's most variative release to date. It switches from more industrial influenced tracks such as 'Vudu' and 'Apostol' to more metal based songs such as 'Jibaro' and 'Red De Indra', while it as well contains songs such as 'Exilio' and 'Ion+' that turn out to be a perfect mix of both, and are blessed with a modern approach.
People who liked Blood's preverious releases can blindly buy 'Seppuku' - as well fans of bands like Oomph!, Turmion Katilot and the preveriously mentioned Rammstein. Another quality release by these Spanish pioneers, and Blood's best one up to date.
Vote: 90 / 100
Review by: Gerardo
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1. Progenie
2. Vudu
3. Ion+
4. Exilio
5. Jibaro
6. Red de Indra
7. Apostol
8. Gotika (M.C.R. Remix)
9. Conciencia (Skanner Replica Remix)
10. Egos (Animassacre Remix)
11. Red de Indra (Bonus Track)
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