Album review: BLOODBOUND – Creatures Of The Dark Realm

May 26th, 2021 by brianmc

AFM Records [release date: 28.05.21]

When Bloodbound’s principal songwriters, Fredrik Bergh and Tomas Olsson rerouted their musical artistry from the AOR of Street Talk to the land of Power Metal, they brought the underlying principles of hooky melodic rock with them.

That was 17 years and 10 albums ago. Their music is formula. A tried and tested formula. It works. It’s addictive. To the extent that a sizeable fanbase welcomes each new album like an old friend, reflecting the observation that hardcore fans seldom embrace change, what they want is more of the same. That’s what they get with Creatures Of The Dark Realm.

Many of the tracks are orchestral refinements of power metal, occasionally nodding to past glories. And you’ll not get many better resonating, rifftastic intros than that of ‘When Fate Is Calling’, or a more convincing Wagnerian middle section. Similarly, ‘Ever Burning Flame’ employs a significant weight of backing vocals, urging us to join the operatic chorus.

The band is as tight as a drum, and they prove all over again with this album that they can write tightly structured songs packed with hair-raising dynamic shifts and vertiginous choruses. ‘A Gathering Of Souls’ shows it off best… a heavyweight, surging rock song with a power metal spine, closely followed by the anthemic ‘March To War’ and the bombastic ‘Death Will Lead The Way’, which ramps up the theatre, sounding much like a battle scene from Game Of Thrones.

In fact the whole album has the rhythmic flow of a movie, rising and falling, raising the temperature with astute use of triumphal choruses and memorable melodies, punctuating the songs with heartstopping hooks and musical battle cries. At the same time staying sane within the chaos of the drama.

And the sure sign of a talented band… they make it all sound effortless. ****

review by Brian McGowan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)