Review: 04.2008

BY BLOOD ALONE
Seas of Blood
(Jericho Hill)

This Portland, ME (the other Portland) quintet are “progressive metal,” but that portrayal misses their clashing goth leanings. They don’t comfortably burrow in prescribed genres (although “Nidhogg” sounds like Styx). Instead, BBA rattles comfort zones on their first LP with an odd confluence of Black Sabbath Tony Iommi licks as if played like Santana, icy church keyboard (or graveyard piano or accordion), Neil Peart (Rush) drums, and a brave female (with saucy braided big hair) named Cruella bawling like a spawn of Lene Lovich, Siouxie Sioux, Nina Hagen, and Anja Huwe (Xmal Deutschland). No not for prevailing in a scary breast cancer battle, but listening to this, it’s easy to understand she takes no trash. It’s her resolute carriage—and John Graveside’s lead guitar—that makes one think she and band are not easily trifled with.

- Jack Rabid-