Back in 2002, I was well in the throes of extreme metal obsession, having gradually, then rapidly, exchanged more mainstream heavy pleasures with the wonders of the underground. Much of this exploration occurred in the preceding couple of years, where it became my mission to educate myself and seek out genre classics, forming a particular affiliation for death metal and the nuggets of gold from the late ’80’s and early ’90s scenes, especially the Floridian, New York and Stockholm varieties. Yet by 2002 contemporary releases were well and truly on my radar as well, after all we can’t all loiter in the halls of nostalgia for too long.1 Along the way I had enamored myself with the beauty and brilliance of Opeth, which in turn opened my ears to affiliated bands such as Katatonia and Edge of Sanity. In 2000, the esteemed members of those aforementioned Swedish heavyweights formed Bloodbath, hitting the studio to record an apparent one-off EP, entitled Breeding Death, a shamelessly awesome celebration of the early Stockholm death metal scene.
Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth) on vocals, Dan ‘The Man’ Swanö (Edge of Sanity, Nightingale) on drums, Anders “Blakkheim” Nyström (Katatonia, Diabolical Masquerade) on guitar, and bassist Jonas Renkse (Katatonia, October Tide) recorded the inspired three song collection comprising Breeding Death, featuring gloriously rotten, throwback Swedeath tunes that paid homage to past legends while sounding fresh and inspired. One short release was never going to be enough, so lo and behold, the quartet returned in 2002 as a supergroup to be reckoned with, while simultaneously boasting the quality death chops and writing smarts to transcend the lofty and often underwhelming expectations the ‘supergroup’ tag comes lumped with. Breeding Death was a cool release no doubt, whetting the appetite for more old school throwback fun from talented and well-established scenesters with a hunger for recharging the batteries from the heyday of Swedeath.
Resurrection Through Carnage dropped in 2002, and my high expectations were met head-on and then swiftly exceeded. Bloodbath had created their own first-rate modern interpretation of a classic early death metal sound outta Sweden, widely regarded as a pivotal scene of timeless deathly creations. The band’s ‘brutality through simplicity’ motto hits home the beauty of Resurrection Through Carnage. Sure, there are obvious nods to early pioneers Carnage, Grave, Dismember, and co, however, Bloodbath’s chunky modern production, quality songwriting, and knack for crafting straightforward, addictive tunes steeped in horror-inspired atmosphere, created a fresh, steroid-jacked reboot of a much loved, pioneering style of death. Released well before the later boom of retro Swedeath worship and only a decade and change removed from the era that inspired Bloodbath, Resurrection Through Carnage preceded the swarm of Swedeath clones and half-baked knockoffs. Bloodbath stitched a fresh layer of decomposing skin to the original, rotting template.
The expertise and skilled songcraft of the talented collective elevated the album beyond rosy nostalgia and into its own special domain of deathly excellence. Bookended by atmospherically strong and ripping power plays of “Ways to the Grave” and “Cry My Name,” Resurrection Through Carnage is a concise and consistently gripping album, bolstered by tight, no-frills performances, killer riffs, and hideously inspired death vox from Åkerfeldt. There are no weak links or misfires, each song distinctive and memorable in its own right. Bloodbath’s deft use of melody, dynamic tempo shifts, and ominous leads meshing seamlessly with beefy riffs, hooky choruses, and heaving, bloody chunks of groove, such as the timeless, head-chopping groove punctuating “Bathe in Blood.” Highlights change from day to day, year to year, such is the album’s endearing strength and consistent form. Take your pick from such unforgettable gems, including the irresistible, gnarly hooks of “So You Die,” sinister melodic charms of “Death Delirium,” thrashing groove-fest of “Buried by the Dead,” grisly constructs of “The Soulcollector,” and immense, anthemic butchery of “Like Fire.” It’s all quality shit from beginning to end.
Overall, Resurrection Through Carnage holds up exceptionally well in all departments and stands the test of time. Bloodbath’s first decade yielded two strong EPs and three essential LPs despite the shifting line-ups. Although later years have been less impressive, Bloodbath remain the ultimate death metal supergroup. Twenty years since its release, Resurrection Through Carnage still kicks all kinds of arse and to this day is a milestone old school death metal classic, boasting reanimated flesh and chunky chainsaw riffs for days.
Disclaimer: 2022 marked the 20th anniversary of this fine death platter, however, end-of-year madness and Listurnalia shenanigans resulted in a delay in publication, Record(s) o’ the Month style.
