Tag: Bloodletter

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Faster than the Devil 3 – Review

 

Here we go again!

Wise Blood’s Faster than the Devil compilation series, started in 2022, has quickly become one of my favorite album releases to look forward to each and every year. Sure 2025 looks nutty but at least we will get Faster than the Devil IV! 

Remember the legendary Metal Blade’s Metal Massacre compilation series that introduced the world to some of the biggest names in Thash such as Slayer and Metallia something or other. That’s exactly what’s happening in this series. So if you’ve always wanted to be into a band before they got big, you’re looking for something fresh and cool or if you’ve been wondering if the new kids can still Thrash, this comp is for you.

The 4 bands included this time around are Bloodletter (Chicago), Ninth Realm (Maryland), Acid Mass (Cincinnati) and Grozov (Philadelphia.) Each band provided 3 tracks of brain melding thrash metal that runs the gambit of the genre.

Faster than the Devil 3 has it all. Old school early 80’s traditional thrash, nasty black metal and crust and some more light hearted (but still awesome) tracks.

Grozov’s closing track, “Bitchin’ Leather,” is a fun bop to listen to as I wait for the announcement  of Faster than the Devil IV. 

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BLOODLETTER – A Different Kind of Hell – REVIEW

 

Halloween is officially over for most people, which means it’s time for the general public to start making their Xmas shopping lists and descend into yuletide madness. Thankfully, that’s not the case with Trve Kvlt Coffee. Here we are working on a different kind of list.

The list of the best Metal releases of 2023.

Bloodletter’s newest ripper, A Different Kind of Hell is a definite contender for the coveted number 1 slot. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve spun this banger. It just keeps getting better each and every time I listen to it.  The album is 30+ minutes of some of the new best melodic/thrash I’ve heard in some time. Each and every track is explosive and goes right in for the kill.

One of the things I enjoy most about this recording are the killer harmonized guitars lead and riffs that are plentiful throughout the album. Never have I had such a good time getting my teeth kicked in! Bloodletter’s execution is spot on and perfectly walks the line between traditional thrash and blackened thrash. While the vocals aren’t guttural, they still come across savage and are a perfect match for the sonic blur of sound that is going on here.

From the opening track, “The Howling Dead,” to album closer, “Flesh Turned to Ash,” Bloodletter hardly pause the chaos for a moment. This is an album that grows with each listen. After you survive the initial beating you’ll begin to discover incredible riffs, harmonies and arrangements outside the blast zone.

When Wise Blood Records called this a “Thrasterpiece,” they weren’t kidding!

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BLOODLETTER – Maligancy – REVIEW

Even though this EP is a re-recording of earlier material, Bloodletter’s Malignancy still feels slightly raw and unpolished but that’s exactly the feel you are going for a down and dirty thrash album. This recording is short and savage at less than 15 minutes in run time with no single track over 4 minutes in length.

This EP dosen’t let up for a second. In between the chaotic pummeling drums and blistering tempos are some great guitar harmonies that really shine and this is where the band really sets themselves apart from others. The vocals are pissed and angry, perfectly melding with the rest of Bloodletter’s sound.

“Skullsplitter,” for me is the stand out track. The lyrics, the breakneck drums and frenzied guitar assault provide the groundwork for a perfect banger.  There is a lot to love on this little EP and I look forward to hearing more from Bloodletter.