Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Bloodbath - Nightmares Made Flesh - 2004 Century Media

Track Listing1. Cancer Of The Soul 2. Brave New Hell 3. Soul Evisceration 4. Outnumbering The Day 5. Feeding The Undead 6. Eaten 7. Bastard Son Of God 8. Year Of The Cadaver Race 9. The Ascension 10. Draped In Disease 11. Stillborn Saviour 12. Blood Vortex

“Nightmares Made Flesh” is the newest release from the Swedish death metal “super group” Bloodbath. First and foremost it is worth mentioning that a change has been made in the vocal department. Gone is Opeth vocalist Mikael Akerfeldt and behind the microphone we find Hypocrisy front man Peter Tagtgren. Dan Swano (Edge of Sanity/Nightingale/Infesteded) moved to guitar and gave way to Martin Axerot (Witchery/Satanic Slaugher). Anders Nystrom is still playing the role of second guitarist while bassist Jonas Renkse of Katatonia/October Tide fame is still holding down the bass duties.

As some of you may know it has been two years since Resurrection Through Carnage was released as a tribute to the old school death metal scene. Bloodbath’s second full-length is titled “Nightmares Made Flesh” and it is apparent that more than personal changes have been made. The old school production of Resurrection Through Carnage has been replaced by polished, full tones. The guitar riffs are simpler but are executed in an aggressive and at times, atmospheric death metal onslaught.

It may come as a surprise that the vocals have not changed a great deal. To my ears, it is the guitar tones and riffing style that has progressed into new territories. While the CD does not contain an abundance of lead guitar work we are given memorable slices of metal brilliance in songs like “Year of the Cadaver Race” and “The Ascension”. The song “Eaten” is a mid-tempo grinding tale of morbid gore. The main guitar riff to “Soul Evisceration” is haunting and chilling. Other songs like “Bastard Son of God” offers hyper fast double bass drum beats and pounding old school blast beats.

Unlike many so called “super groups” Bloodbath delivers a full length CD that lives up to expectations. It seems that Bloodbath set out to deliver more than just another tribute to old school death metal and instead etched their mark on today’s death metal scene with the modern sounds of “Nightmares Made Flesh”.


--Gregory 04.07.05