Review: 05.2008
BY BLOOD ALONE - SEAS OF BLOOD
(Jericho Hill Records)
From Portland USA arrives in a sea of Gothical new wave energy By Blood Alone a five piece band featuring the wonderful dark, sexy and mysterious vocals of Cruella, the melodic guitar work of John Graveside with Jack Doran handling the pumping slabs of bass work. Runtt adds atmospheric drum patterns and excellent keyboard player Jenny Williamson gives the band their dark spooky gothical edge. Steve La Cerra who’s known for his work with Blue Oyster Cult has produced ‘Seas Of Blood’.
By Blood Alone is a good solid album, it won't sink in upon first play and you will need to live with it, which is the case with most progressive rock albums. ‘S.O.B’ is an album that explores many musical areas and can be described as progressive and gothic rock with a modern slant perhaps due to the electronic nature of the CD.
The album starts with 'Serpentarius' which is a prime example of the above where you need to live with the song a few times to get used to the bands style. But it works and is simple and effective if not unusual in style. 'Wants Me Dead' is another cool song with catchy hooks; this one is a throwback to the seventies. There's solid guitar work from John Graveside coupled with keys and dark vocals. There is an almost southern slant to the guitar playing on this track. So you get a gothical feel tune laced with southern guitar work, which is again unusual to hear, but it works. Cruella does a good vocal performance here and the whole song builds into a solid number, very earthy seventies feel with a strong southern slant.
'Undead Friend' starts off in a calmer mood with great vocals from Cruella. I love the delicate coldness of the keyboards; again there's an eerie ghostly feel to Cruella's vocals. Then the song comes into gear in a lovely direction of melodies and poetic enchanting lyrics. It's calming and subtle, I just adore this song, close your eyes and let the song swirl around your head as it shows influences towards Lana Lane crossed with early Joni Mitchell.
The oddly titled 'Nidbogg' is drenched in superb instrumentation. Again the theme's are heavily influenced by seventies progressive rock, musically bands like Yes and ELO come to mind with a darker twist thanks to Cruella's vocals. Next up is 'Lovely Lies’; a chunky guitar led number again with atmospheric keyboards. This is a modern rocking song that shows Lullacry and Magenta influences, very melodic and catchy.
The title track 'Seas Of Blood' is another delicate song with lovely emotive playing from all involved. There is allot of feeling coming out of this track, a very strong piece with fantastic subtle vocals from Cruella, one of the highlights of the record. I just love the way the song builds.
The catchy 'Deny Yourself' is next, again it's dark but heavier with Gothic style keyboards. 'Little Lady Lillit' closes the book and once again is deeply melodic with a ghostly feel thanks to the spooky keyboards. One thing about this track is that the vocals are a little different. I think Cruella was trying a different approach on this one, as lyrically the track has a humorous almost childlike feel. It makes me think of the movie 'Hocus Pocus' with Bette Midler and the type of tongue in cheek lyrics you would hear in that movie. A strange ending but stick with it and its cool to hear something a little different.
Overall ‘Seas Of Blood’ is a hugely enjoyable record. Each song is different and you do have to sit with it and let it grow on you so you hear everything from the lyrics to the vocals to the instrumentation. A strong and diverse album. Check the band out at www.bybloodalone.com www.myspace.com/bybloodalone
Nicky Baldrian