Blodsrit (blood rite) is an old heathen ritual performed by sacrificing blood for better crops. Blodsrit is also a Swedish black metal band with it’s origins in early Darkthrone, Marduk and Carpathian Forest. This is corpse painted satanic black metal written with care and conviction and more precision than most. Originally a one man project, founder Nazgul took his appreciation for the above mentioned bands into the studio and created six songs for a split cd called Storm of Immolation. This disc was my first encounter with the band, very promising for the future. Not satisfied with the results, Nazgul, armed with the assistance of session musicians for bass, lead guitars on one song and lyrics on two others, entered the studio again and this disc, Supreme Misanthropy, is the result.

Early Abigor comes to mind. The music is slow paced but not plodding, with occasionally quickened pace, and vocals typical of the Swedish bands. His vocal delivery is not overly varied, but conveys emotion well. Check out “Likbal” to hear clean vocals, proving that with different vocals, say Vintersorg’s older style viking clean vocals, and the same music it works too. Some songs wander a bit too long and some end rather abruptly, but overall a fine effort. A huge progression from the previous effort. What is missing is the aggression of brutal death that many bands are adding today. Having said that, it is really not missed, it’s absence is actually a strength. This is certainly by no means goth, but it has a Finnish melodic black feel in places. I am glad there are still some out there interested in early 90’s black, even better to find a band that has such a firm grasp on the style. Forget death and goth attributes for a more modern sound.

For many one man bands the drumming is the weak point. Here the drumming is not a problem, it neither detracts or adds, but a real drummer would be a welcome addition. I had already been enjoying this disc for some time when asked to review it, and when I looked on their website, to my surprise, I learned of a follow up release, promo only, called Secrets Unveiled. That secret; new member Fiebig on drums. I’m not sure why the decision to not release this disc to the general public, since to my ears they are already advanced enough to no longer need demos. With new bass player Saphanoz, Blodsrit is now a three piece, and already hard at work on a new album, tentatively called The Rape of Vestal Purity. Watch out for this fast rising horde. These Swedes deserve more attention.

[Visit the band's website]

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