Canada's Blood Ceremony are back once again to satisfy our thirst for 70's influenced hard rock and heavy metal with their sophomore release Living With the Ancients. If you loved their blend of crushing Black Sabbath styled doom & Jethro Tull fueled prog & folk, then chances are you'll love this follow up to their very fine debut.
Truth be told, there's slightly less of the brooding Sabbath influence here, as the band seem to be reaching out more into the psychedelic, prog, and folk avenues than the doom metal. The flute, as well as the organ, is just as prominent throughout, giving vocalist Alia O'Brien plenty of room to weave her mystical spells. Jethro Tull, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, The Doors, Alice Cooper, Black Widow, and yes, the mighty Black Sabbath are all part of the brew, yet the band take these influences and come up with something really special and unique. "Oliver Haddo" combines the best of all worlds, as energetic organ combats crushing riffs, with O'Brien's vocals flying over the top for a truly magical ride. Other standout tracks include "Coven Tree", the proggy "Night of Augury", and the pounding stomp of "My Demon Brother". Toss in something like the lovely flute led instrumental "The Witch's Dance" and the epic sounding "Daughter of the Sun" and you have a complete winner of a CD that really has no weak tracks.
Those who loved the massive doom vibe of the debut might be slightly disappointed that they lay off that slightly here on Living With the Ancients, but the band is really branching out quite a bit here, and for my money it's a step in the right direction. Blood Ceremony have all the tools to be a really hot band on the scene, so if you haven't checked 'em out yet, the time is now.
Track Listing
1. The Great God Pan
2. Coven Tree
3. The Hermit
4. My Demon Brother
5. Morning of the Magicians
6. Oliver Haddo
7. Night of Augury
8. The Witch's Dance
9. Daughter of the Sun
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