ALBUM REVIEW: Lifeblood – Brand of Sacrifice

How do you follow an album that told the story of the rise of anime character Guts from Berserk? You release an album about his downfall, of course! That’s what Canadian deathcore starlets BRAND OF SACRIFICE have done with Lifeblood, out now via Blood Blast and their sophomore full release after 2019’s God Hand.

BRAND OF SACRIFICE have, alongside bands such as SHADOW OF INTENT, been spearheading a revival in a deathcore scene that, aside from a very select few outfits, was growing increasingly saturated with bands who knew how to play it well but not offer anything other than the well-worn formula of big riff-double kicks-screaming-breakdown-end. On God Hand, they introduced themselves in devastating fashion; with Lifeblood, they’ve raised the bar even higher.

The fusion of deathcore with both electronic and symphonic moments has been a roaring success, especially on Altered Eyes which is arguably the best track on the album. It’s got everything; big riffs and melody, a pair of duelling guitars and a spotlight on what at first sounds like a DJ scratching a la People=Shit but evolves into a full out electronic pulse before the inevitable breakdown happens, but the impact is as seismic as Guts plunging his Dragon Slayer into the heart of the Sea God within the show the band have built their music around.

There’s also a number of guest spots across Lifeblood, all of whom put in a stellar job. Frankie Palmeri from EMMURE is first up on Prophecy of the Falcon and gives a good account of himself as the song swirls around with its usual level of chaotic intensity. Ben Duerr of the aforementioned SHADOW OF INTENT has lovely back and forth with BRAND OF SACRIFICE‘s Kyle Anderson on Mortal Vessel, I PREVAIL‘s Eric Vanlerberghe shows up on the bombastic Foe of the Inhuman and Tyler Shelton of TRAITORS fame adds his voice to the crushing Ruin.

The best showing though, comes from former HEART OF A COWARD and SYLOSIS frontman Jamie Graham, now with VISCERA and returning the favour to BRAND OF SACRIFICE after Kyle appeared on last year’s Obsidian album by his band. His clean vocals in the chorus of Vengeance gives the song a more progressive air, and it isn’t a million miles away from some of the soaring work that DEVIN TOWNSEND is used to producing.

Talking of soaring, this isn’t just a dozen tracks to leave everyone in pieces at the end of it all; there are two interludes that profile a diversity to the group. The first, Perfect World, is more grandiose and wouldn’t look out of place in a fantasy film or – you guessed it – anime episode, whilst Corridor of Dreams is more peaceful and serence, working well as a moment of reflection and rest before giving way to a massive BLEH! from Kyle and the closing title track, one more punch to the senses before the record fades away.

BRAND OF SACRIFICE won’t be able to draw on Beserk for their inspiration forever, but if they’re going to keep produce scintillating work like Lifeblood, they won’t need to. Their record now stands at two albums released, two that deserve the attention of anyone who likes metal; this is seriously brilliant work.

Rating: 9/10

Lifeblood is out now via Blood Blast. 

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