#devil's blood

Hit shuffle on your media player and write down the first 20 songs, then tag 10 or more people. No skipping!🙅🏻‍♀️

I was tagged by @walk-among-us. Thank you for tagging me!

1. The Distant Dream of Life – Shape of Despair

2.Weekend Wars – MGMT

3. Addicted to Bad Ideas – World/Inferno Friendship Society

4 .Uncreation – Dan Swanö

5. It’s a Sin – Pet Shop Boys

6. Die the Death – The Devil’s Blood

7. Johnny the Rocker – Magnus Uggla

8. Under the Runes – Bathory

9. Sunsettlers ([Synthwave Remix by Sono Tono]) – Magna Carta Cartel

10. The Killing Lights – AFI

11. The Isle of Summer – Agalloch

12. Autre Temps – Alcest

13. He Is – Ghost

14.  Wasted Days – Cloud Nothings

15. Baldur – Osi And The Jupiter

16. Cocainium – Baroness

17. I’m Still Standing – Elton John

18. Insight – Joy Division

19. The Comedown – Rainbow Kitten Surprise

20. Cough Syrup – Young the Giant

Blood Ceremony: Blood Ceremony (2008)

Has it been almost ten years already?

Blood Ceremony seemed to come out of nowhere in 2008, armed with a pretty authentic interpretation of late ‘60s/early ‘70s occult rock, and the distinctive talents of vocalist, organist and flautist Alia O’Brien, prompting me to muse some of the following in the All-Music Guide.

With ‘90s stoner rock all but obsolete, certainly well past its peak, the third millennium ushered in a new generation of rearview-gazing bands, set on invoking the creative spirit and sonic aesthetic of decades past -- often with almost eerie precision.

Arguably kicked off by Sweden's Witchcraft, this attention to vintage sounds was soon taken up by fellow séance-participants like The Devil’s Blood, Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, Ghost B.C. and, of course, Blood Ceremony.

The Canadian quartet’s eponymous debut fairly reeked of sweet incense and Mary Jane, as standouts like “Into the Coven” (no relation to the Mercyful Fate song), “The Rare Lord” and “Hop Toad” reverberated with foreboding acid-doom stylings (think Sabbath, Black Widow, Pentagram), plus obscure heavy prog ingredients, for good measure. 

Taking a few steps back, first cut “Master of Confusion” effectively proclaimed the group's intentions via its atmospheric synth intro, creeping riffs, and sinister themes, while second song, “I’m Coming with You” adorned its doom-laden power chords and Satanic invocations with flute flourishes reminiscent of -- who else? -- Jethro Tull. 

Ironically, O’Brien’s voice may have been her weaker instrument, and a few overly ambitious proggies (“A Wine of Wizardry,” “Hymn to Pan”) ultimately betrayed these young musicians’ relative inexperience, but let’s give them a little credit for having good fun in the name of Beelzebub.

And I can happily report that Blood Ceremony would gain a deeper mastery of those ancient occult rock templates in efforts yet to come, commendably doing their part to revive and then keep this fascinating period of rock’s existence alive ... and bleeding.