ALBUM REVIEW: There’s Always Blood At The End Of The Road – Wiegedood

Moving forward from their De Doden Hebben Het Goed trilogy of albums, Belgian black metal band, WIEGEDOOD, are back to reign chaos with their fourth studio album, There’s Always Blood At The End Of The Road. The album watches the trio break the confines of their previous releases and branch their way down another route, whilst not entirely turning their back on the sound that has helped build their name within the black metal scene.

What is most recognisable is that WIEGEDOOD have strayed from the more sombre sounds that hypnotised, instead holding onto a more rage-filled ball of energy that is ready to explode. The atmosphere that the Belgium-band have conjured for such a dominating emotion cannot be praised enough. What they deliver isn’t just a constant attack, it is multi-dimensional and switches between haunting spoken-word monologues, as heard in And In Old Salamano’s Room, The Dog Whimpered Softly, to pained shrieks of despair on Until It Is Not.

Whether or not it is down to being used to the De Doden Hebben… sound that the band held so tightly prior, it does take a brief while to accustom yourself to the idea this is a WIEGEDOOD album. There’s the ultimate anticipation for the familiarity that the trilogy was able to provide, but it never comes, and whilst in one way it’s tinged with a slight sadness that time is over for the band, it is brief. After a couple of tracks into the album, the danger the music makes you feel is worth every second of surprise.

Now Will Always Be is undoubtedly one of the more standout tracks on the album for that aforementioned element. The way the guitars and vocals intertwine with one another with the echo of a church bell in the background makes for a pretty disturbing listen. If a track had to be picked to define the embodiment of evil, this one would stand mighty with some of the strongest contenders out there.

One thing that is for definite that WIEGEDOOD have nailed here is how there is no moment to be left feeling even a slight bit settled. Coinciding with Now Will Always Be, Nuages stands in line as one of the most psychotic tracks that has been heard in black metal for a while now. It is a frenzy of despair and rather terrifyingly, relatable with the human feeling of a combination of sheer rage and impending fragility.

Each track on the album, in their own right, have distinguishing features but are impeccable at maintaining a steady balance of emotions that are anything but balanced. They merge, creating a soundscape to the inner-workings of the side of the human mind nobody wishes to disclose they have. From start to finish, minus the creepy fixture that is instrumental Wade, WIEGEDOOD have maintained pure fury and hatred, creating an album that is within every aspect, pure horror.

There’s Always Blood At The End Of The Road might not be what was originally anticipated from the black metal trio, but it fails to neglect the taste-buds of any fan. Regardless of if the album hits you on first listen, or takes a couple of rounds to adjust to, it will leave you scarred, like a heat-imprinted brand. There is no returning from the depths of darkness that this album takes you on, it doesn’t matter what you try, whether you convince yourself that you aren’t sucked into such apparent despair, it clings to you and attaches itself to your soul. If there was ever going to be a soundtrack to Hell, this would be it.

Rating: 9/10

There’s Always Blood At The End Of The Road is out now via Century Media Records. 

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