Having been inactive for almost 15 years, Toronto death stars Blood of Christ seemed to be resigned to their place in Canadian metal history. The band made quite an impact around the turn of the millennium, releasing three quality albums between 1997 and 2003. But, as their brethren in Kataklysm and Cryptopsy pounded on, Blood of Christ disbanded, appearing to be relegated to the fate of "cult classic."
All that changed last year, when B.o.C. dropped "Echoes From the 7th Dimension," the single that would eventually lead to their reunion album, Unrelenting Declivity of Anguish (Anthology IV). With a new singer and new bassist, it's time for B.o.C. to show what they can really do.
Armed with an old-school ethos and the production of Icehouse Studios mastermind Thomas Ireland, Anthology IV is a raging good time. B.o.C. stick to what they know, which is technical, spider-fingered riffs and blastbeats occasionally broken up by colossal breakdowns that threaten to snap the neck of anyone listening. Dynamic moments on "Dragooned by Jupiter" and "The Cursed" only serve to make the rest seem heavier.
There's more then a whiff of Chris Barnes worship in Chris Gooding's vocal delivery, as well as mid-era Carcass in the guitars. Blood of Christ could stand to be a bit more original if they want to stand out from the pack, but as it is, Anthology IV shows that they deserve to be respected as one of Canada's better death metal exports.
(CDN)All that changed last year, when B.o.C. dropped "Echoes From the 7th Dimension," the single that would eventually lead to their reunion album, Unrelenting Declivity of Anguish (Anthology IV). With a new singer and new bassist, it's time for B.o.C. to show what they can really do.
Armed with an old-school ethos and the production of Icehouse Studios mastermind Thomas Ireland, Anthology IV is a raging good time. B.o.C. stick to what they know, which is technical, spider-fingered riffs and blastbeats occasionally broken up by colossal breakdowns that threaten to snap the neck of anyone listening. Dynamic moments on "Dragooned by Jupiter" and "The Cursed" only serve to make the rest seem heavier.
There's more then a whiff of Chris Barnes worship in Chris Gooding's vocal delivery, as well as mid-era Carcass in the guitars. Blood of Christ could stand to be a bit more original if they want to stand out from the pack, but as it is, Anthology IV shows that they deserve to be respected as one of Canada's better death metal exports.
