30th January 2024

Review: “Absence” by Bloodshot

Hailing from Oxford, Death Groove collective Bloodshot have been drilling since 2016 with the aim of reaching the centre of the Earth and unleashing molten hot lava on Planet X. They began their fear campaign with 2017 debut EP “Purgatory” and followed that with a self titled affair in 2020, all the while igniting venues up and down the land like arsonists who get all the girls. Sharing stages with such household names as King 810, Ingested and Diamond Head to name but a few, they have also survived Oxford’s biggest Metal Weekender Rabidfest in both 2019 and 2021. Those were events that caused those who witnessed them to suffer severe cases of whiplash, not to mention the third degree burns from the heat of their face melting solos. For those not in the know, Bloodshot claim influences in 90’s Death Metal from the likes of Death and Cannibal Corpse as well as citing early Lamb Of God and Chimaira from the generation of bands that followed…

Their latest offering maybe considered an EP but at five cuts deep, this half an hour of power is longer than a fair number of full length records. Perhaps taking influence from ethnic infused Metal bands like Sepultura the opening strains of “A Finite Life” are a tribal ritual like moment before the first wave of Groove Death guitars and caustic vocals hit in blood and thunder fashion. Playing out at the tempo of the damned with a high calibre output capable of putting a hole in your chest… like receiving both barrels from a sawn off shotgun at point blank range, the kit performance is nothing short of sheer class, hammering the nails into the coffins of anyone who would dare oppose them. The riffs are equally as scandalous, delivered with the kind of confidence that tells you the band have complete faith in their cryptic writings. It’s The combination of the pacing of the material and the tone of the razor sharp riffs which makes the work of Bloodshot fearfully addictive. As musicians they seem to have the ability to produce quality over quantity time and time again, which is something to be admired. Across the board they have produced a record full of cuts with a verve and swagger to them that is undisputable, so the opening cut leaves it’s mark like a knock out blow from a prize fighter. Raising the temperature by a few degrees “Demarcation” continues in the same vein, the huge drum sound and earworm main riff the kind of thing that other bands would kill for as it captures the attention almost immediately. Understated leads showcase a little Melodic Death Metal influence before a tasteful solo offers a little decadence. As you would expect the vocals are harsh and unclean but there is a fleeting spoken word in this one that adds another dimension before the bone snapping final onslaught. Make no mistake, blood, sweat and tears have been poured into the making of this record so while it sounds effortless in its show of strength it is equally as cold, calculated an clinically precise.

The centre piece of the record is “God Eater” and it’s one which can only be described as another jewel in the Bloodshot crown of thorns with a pitch black atmosphere and stompy feel. Suitably demonic vocals send a shiver down the spine, for a God can only be consumed by a monster from the black depths, the weight and gravity of the performance akin to the crushing power of a black hole. There is however balance with another tasteful spoken word accompanied by a sinister melody and almost tribal drum fills, the sheer intensity the band create with these tracks the kind of heat you could expect from towering inferno. “Dead Horizons” then comes in swinging with a classic riff that raises the hairs on the back of the neck and the kind of drum sound that instantly makes one think of the late great Vinnie Paul from Pantera. Combine that with a staccato riff attack and white hot vocals and you’re left with a full on assault on the senses that has a surprising amount of bounce for the mosh pit. You can’t help but listen in awe at these sonic abominations as Bloodshot have a clear vision coupled with a confidence in their own musicianship both of which go a long way to ensuring that there are no experiments, no left field moments and nothing that could be considered unintended. We use phrases like “all killer, no filler” all too often but this is a genuine case of exactly that. 90 seconds or so of rich melody introduce grand finale in “Absence Of Being“, a near eight minute magnum opus that bursts into flames like a phoenix rising from the ashes. A couple of stunningly vibrant solos find the band in more Progressive Death Metal territory in the vein of Obscura but they refuse to compromise vocally and instead punch back hard with the rhythm sections between the choruses. As a record, this is one that if there is any justice in the World should catapult the band from the national to international scene with major labels sending A&R people to shows because this genuinely has it all and the kitchen sink [9.5/10]

Track Listing