STORY ANGLES ABOUND with the emergence of Bloodbath’s sixth album. Themes pertaining to perseverance, time management, organisation and creative compartmentalisation are at work, but what stands out most is death metal’s enduring lure. Beginning as a side-project by dudes who grew up with, but slowly moved away from, death metal, Bloodbath have endured supergroup scepticism, line-up changes (while maintaining supergroup status) and being in the crosshairs of the US Visa system. What’s surfaced isn’t just a quintet of middle-aged gents cranking out violent vibrancy and shedding light on important topics like Malignant Maggot Therapy and but a quintet unable to give up the ghost as they forge forward in the spirit of their teenage selves. Except with better gear, an exponentially improved skillset and some 30-odd years of experience.
