Review: 11.13.2007
BY BLOOD ALONE
Seas of Blood
by Wendy Deschenes
“A painter paints pictures on canvas, But musicians paint their pictures on silence.”
- Leopold Stokowski
October of this year brought with it the much-anticipated full-length release of Portland based By Blood Alone’s Seas of Blood. Containing haunting lyrics, powerful guitar riffs, thumping bass lines, excellent drumming and elegant piano/keyboard pieces, Seas of Blood has something for every musical palate and does not disappoint those who hunger for true auditory stimulation and entertainment.
Each song has its own bewitching story to tell and comes to life with an exceptional use of orchestration which is accompanied by the beautifully dark lyrics. The music contains an extraordinary use of timing changes so it not only grabs your attention but can also lull you into the very story lines of the songs themselves. The title track, “Seas of Blood”, is a haunting love story about a widow who has lost her love to the sea. The lengthy introduction gives an opportunity to be drawn into the melancholy feel of the story. Along with the variable dynamics of the percussion and excellent guitar riffs, the piano plays a pivotal roll in the song. Remarkably, the song is only seven minutes long, but you’ll feel like you’ve just watched a full-length movie. Another exceptional use of the piano can be found on track 3, “Undead Friend”. The magnificent changes between the verses and choruses as well as the use of orchestration add a significant fullness to this masterpiece. There is an uncompromising level of talent and professionalism on this album. Categorizing themselves as Progressive Goth Metal, By Blood Alone have found their niche and honed their skill to the peak of perfection. Theirs is a band that adds credence and validity to Maine’s diverse music community, and Seas of Blood is the proof.