BLOODSHOT DAWN - DEMONS [REVIEW]
Band: Bloodshot Dawn
Album: Demons
Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Extreme Melodic Death Metal
Release Date: 26 October 2014
Label: Unsigned
Reviewer: Ziad Gadou
Creating a signature sound is generally one of
the hardest things to do in music, not to mention in the highly critical metal
community. When I first watched the music video of “Vision”, I was
struck by lightning. It did not take a music critic or a metal subgenre
scientist of any sort to recognize the tremendous talent blistering from the speakers.
If “Bitches Love Chicken” written on, ex- drummer, Doug Anderson’s snare
did not stick to your visual memory for all eternity, Bloodshot Dawn
would definitely ring a bell or two. Hailing from the underground pits of Portsmouth,
England, Bloodshot Dawn has risen to become a relentless force not to be
reckoned with. Following their
critically acclaimed self-titled debut, Bloodshot Dawn has opened countless
stages alongside huge names like Wintersun, Vader, and Decapitated.
“Demons” presents a diverse, courageous
step away from the standard extreme silhouette. “Smoke and Mirrors” is one of those
tracks that easily become a band’s go-to song. The album opener is steady,
stellar and a melodic story of perfection. This album also marks guitarist, Benjamin
Ellis’ prominent presence as a vocalist. With a solo crafted to excellence,
this song set the tone just right for what promised to be a monstrous second
installment. “Consequence Complex” had one thought running through my
head: this drummer is a f***king machine. Janne Jaloma (Deals Death) is
Bloodshot Dawn’s newest member since Doug Anderson’s (Unfathomable Ruination)
departure in 2013. He might not provide Anderson’s monstrous back vocals, but
he will certainly imprint his Usain Bolt blast-beats and tight double-bass
kicks into the essence of your very soul. “Inadequacy” and “Black
Hole Infinity” demonstrate just how well coordinated Josh McMorran
and Ben Ellis are, as guitarists and vocalists. I can safely say these two are
the next big melodic death duo. The solo-stuffed track, “The Image Faded”,
is my personal pick off this album. Another very distinctive aspect of this album
was the band’s choice of guest appearances. Sven De Caluwé (Aborted,
System Divide), Per Nilsson (Scar Symmetry), Teemu
Mäntysaari (Wintersun), Andy James (ex-Sacred Mother
Tongue) and Chris Amott (Armageddon, ex-Arch Enemy)
are guaranteed to get you invested in this journey of star-studded melodic
mayhem that is “Demons”.
This album is easily one of my favorite
releases of 2014. The superb skill every member has shown in this
ground-breaking album will surely take this band further and further in the
metal ranks. As a guitarist, a metal enthusiast, and a sucker for melodic
tastiness, this album is everything I expected and more. One can only feel a
warm sense of joy knowing that bands like Bloodshot Dawn will save the day when
all else is lost.
9/10
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