Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Bloodbath Grand Morbid Funeral Company: Century Media Release: 2014 Genre: Death Reviewer: Greg Watson

Quality death metal

Bloodbath have long been waving the flag for quality death metal, ever since the groups formation and initial release of "Breeding Death EP". Their latest opus, "Grand Morbid Funeral" follows suit as another quality death metal album, something this supergroup has down to a science at this point. Six years since "The Fathomless Mastery" is a long wait for a new Bloodbath and the news that Nick Holmes of Paradise Lost was taking over vocal duties forced me to break my bib out to catch all the drool that was forming in the corner of my mouth. While the announcement of Holmes as vocalist was a bonus, the album is very straight forward and very predictable, something that is hard to break away from in the death metal genre. That said however, the songs are damn good and the riffing is out of this world. Holmes' performance is definitely a highlight as I haven't heard him sing that way since "Icon", released by Paradise Lost in 1993. His growls and snarls are top notch and shows that he still has the brass to growl with the best of them. The guitar duo of Anders Nystrom (Katatonia) and Per Eriksson deliver bone crushing riffs and hooks that Leatherface could use as a deadly weapon. While this album isn't anything outside of the box or anything new, it's still a quality release in a genre that has become somewhat watered down and slightly pedestrian. Bloodbath take their time between albums but you know that when a new one comes out, it'll be worth the price and the wait. So, gore lovers and blood bathers, go out and take your place in the "Grand Morbid Funeral".