Blood Ceremony, Canada


Retro prog; Doom metal

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Latest release: The Old Ways Remain (2023)

---UMR notes

Lord of Misrule (2016)

Lord of Misrule is Blood Ceremony's 4th album, and sees the band time travel even further back than prior. Continuing on with this pattern, perhaps soon Blood Ceremony will sound like The Ventures, while Alia O'Brien dances the Mashed Potato...

Lord of Misrule immerses itself into the 1969 landscape quite successfully, mixing psychedelia, folk, hard rock, with slight traces of prog. Though I've defended Blood Ceremony in the past from sounding just like Jethro Tull, here the band seem to be embracing the tag. So yes, perhaps Stand Up era Tull is indeed the blueprint, with some Jefferson Airplane mixed in, and a cameo from Black Sabbath's first album. All with O'Brien's "witchy woman" vocals layered on top. While the music remains excellent - perhaps I say this due to my predilection for the style - there aren't the standout tracks of the past. It's definitely a very good "mid career" album, with well thought out compositions, but it does lack a certain dynamism.

Let's just hope the next album doesn't feature a cover of Hawaii Five-O. Book 'em Danno.

The Eldritch Dark (2013)

The Eldritch Dark sees Blood Ceremony improve on the already excellent Living with the Ancients. The doom metal Black Sabbath component has been reduced, and a decidedly more typical 1969/70 tone has been adopted in its stead. Oh yes, it's still a heavy album - just not as overt as prior. Organ, mellotron, acoustic guitar, fiddle, and flute are more prominent than prior. From a compositional perspective, the band took a page from the early 70s UK folk rock playbook of Mellow Candle and Fuchsia. And Blood Ceremony are now fully admitted into the Post psychedelic, proto progressive with female vocals club. As I said on my Living with the Ancients review, Ian Anderson wasn't the only one walking around with a flute in England in those days - it was a fairly standard instrument in the 1970 English rock landscape. So you may find comparisons to Tull compulsory, rather than accurate.

Now a word about Alia O'Brien's vocals. Throughout the album, I was reminded of someone very specific. But I couldn't figure it out. Then it hit me. All I needed to do was look at my own list above. It's Silvana Aliotta of Circus 2000, who no doubt was influenced by Grace Slick herself. And the first time I read a description of Circus 2000, her vocals were said to be "witchy". How appropriate, then, that O'Brien has a similar voice. Not sure if it's intentional (probably not), but definitely a cool voice to possess.

All the changes Blood Ceremony implemented on The Eldritch Dark are for the better as far as I'm concerned. Even the lyrics have improved. It's still witch stuff, but at least they seem to be taking it more seriously and professional than prior.

Living with the Ancients (2011)

I personally love the combination of female vocals, flute, organ, and fuzz guitar - so Blood Ceremony can almost do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. Jethro Tull is an inevitable comparison because of the flute, but there are no similarities beyond that. Personally I think bands like Tomorrow's Gift (first album), Goliath (UK 1970), Room, and Affinity are closer to the sound here than Tull. And if you don't know these bands, and enjoy Blood Ceremony, then cool - new albums for you to discover right? (though I feel compelled to mention that none of these groups have a metal component).

3/14/12 (new entry); 5/28/13; 8/10/16

4 comments:

  1. I am among the ones that consider BLOOD CEREMONY as descendants of the traditional british doom metal scene. With elements of proto-prog of course, mostly Tull, early Traffic and Goliath (UK). But the foundations of their sound can be traced upon the very underrated Pagan Altar band from the NWoBHM era (more than straight Sabbath i.m.o.). Another great band that follows this tradition are UNCLE ACID and the DEADBEATS. Hammer Horror soundtrack to doom metal. Check them out if you are after the BLOOD CEREMONY sound and you won't be disappointed.

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  2. Yep - good call Spyros on Pagan Altar. I've only heard one album via CD-R by that band and promised to do a more deep dive. It's probably about time I do that! Haven't heard of Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats. Thanks for the tip!

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  3. Didn't like and have not purchase "Lord of Misrule". Couldn;t project myself listening to this album two years later. There's lot of even 2nd league original stuff -way better i.m.o.- that I don't listen that often...

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    Replies
    1. And I did notice your lower grade on this one. I certainly can understand. It lacks some stand out tracks, that's for sure. I like the general sound and feel of it, so my grade was more favorable. Perhaps even biased. Definitely appreciate your insights as always though!

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