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Blood Lightning: Blood Lightning
Boston-based heavy metal act Blood Lightning is a super-group of sorts, containing members of other prominent bands of the Massachusetts scene, including vocalist Jim Healey (We’re All Gonna Die), guitarist Doug Sherman (GOZU), bassist Bob Maloney (Worshipper) and drummer J.R. Roach (Sam Black Church). What began as a 2019 Halloween show playing the entire Black Sabbath Born Again album just for fun has culminated in the release of original material by four veterans of the Boston metal/hardcore community. Their self-titled debut has just been released on Ripple Music, and while it's technically an EP, falling short of 30 minutes in length, the six songs presented here are total bangers. "The Dying Starts" opens with a burst of heavy riffs and excellent vocals from Healey, and "Hitting the Wall" is a total crusher, the riffs monstrous, the groove undeniable, and it also features a torrent of guitar solos. "Bananaconda" floats the line between Black Sabbath and Alice in Chains, the riffs are massive, the bass is loaded with fuzz and wah-wah, and Healey's vocals once again are really strong. 'Face Eater" is the manic, fast-paced track on the album, complete with a catchy chorus and some fiery screams from Healey, while "Blankets" takes the listener down doom territory once again. That leaves the final track, a spirited cover of Sabbath's "Disturbing the Priest" from the Born Again album. I'm not usually in favor or cover songs on an album this short, but these guys knock this one out of the park, with Healey doing his best Ian Gillan and the production really giving this classic a power punch.
This is one enjoyable little heavy metal feast, and I can't wait to hear more from this conglomerate in the future.
Track Listing
1.
The Dying Starts 03:08
2.
Hitting The Wall 04:24
3.
Bananaconda 06:03
4.
Face Eater 04:21
5.
Blankets 03:51
6.
Disturbing The Priest 06:07
Added: April 26th 2026
Reviewer: Pete Pardo
Score: 
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 1593
Language: english
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Blood Lightning: Blood Lightning
Posted by Jon Neudorf, SoT Staff Writer on 2026-04-27 01:00:13
My Score:
I have always said the best part of reviewing music is coming across those completely new finds, yielding unexpected surprises. One such band is Boston based Blood Lightning and their self-titled debut released in 2023.
The band is:
Jim Healey (vocals)
Doug Sherman (guitars)
J.R. Roach (drums)
Bob Maloney (bass, backing vocals, art)
The band formed in 2020 so it didn’t take long for the first album to take hold. For those who appreciate no holds barred rock music you will want to hear this disc. For me, what sets this apart from other bands residing in the retro heavy rock genre is the excellent lead vocals of Jim Healy. His voice is always spot on whether digging deep and reaching for high pitched wailing or his mostly clean vocals that bring these tracks to life. Whether power driven or more serene his voice is always captivating. To go along with the vocals the band presents a powerful rhythm section and excellent guitar work courtesy of Doug Sherman. If the vocals don’t hook you, the riffs surely will beginning with the outstanding opening track “The Dying Starts” and its heavy riffage and catchy chord progressions. I hear a little BOC in this one as their classic ‘70s sound bleeds through, especially in the riffs and vocals. “Hitting The Wall” has slow and dirgy doom riffs meeting faster paces of heaviness. The cool drum tone found in the psychedelic doominess of “Bananaconda” and the Maiden inspired “Face Eater” are more outstanding tracks. Occult vibes come through on the last two tracks; the BOC-like “Blankets” and the slightly trippy and psychedelic “Disturbing The Priest”, both excellent in their own right.
Although short, around twenty-seven minutes, there is never a dull moment as every song has something cool to offer. If you enjoy classic influenced rock and metal you need this in your collection. Highly recommended!
A Ripple Music release.
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