Blood Command - Ghostclocks
Fysisk Format
Popped up Post-Hardcore/Punk
10 songs ()
Release year: 2010
Fysisk Format
Reviewed by Thomas
Surprise of the month

Believe it or not, I am about to do the unthinkable, namely review an album with distinct elements of pop on a metal website. However, since Foo Fighters already are reviewed, and the fact that this is a wee bit heavier and faster taking the heavy post-hardcore/punk influence into consideration I figured I'd just do it and absorb the hate. So, Blood Command is a young band out of Bergen, Norway, with the experienced Yngve Andersen behind the wheel. He's known from both hardcore heroes Jeroan Drive and Warlight from the general underground scene in Norway and especially Bergen. Blood Command are a striking hybrid of punk and hardcore with a heavy pop-influence mainly in rhythms and melodies. In other words, you haven't heard anything like it if you give it a chance, and female vocalist Silje Tombre drags them out of whatever crowd they're in with exceptional vocal-work which adds a good dose of originality, punch and pure joy through high-pitched madness. After a couple of EP's, the début album Ghostclocks is finally out, packed with catchy rhythms and melodies, precise drumming, riff bordering on absolute genius, and the mentioned vocals.

Art For the Sake of Art kicks off the dance with poppy hardcore-rhythms and a furious Silje Tombre who both screams and sings mangled in an inferno of Sigurd Haukaas' brilliant drumming and very strong riffs. Incorporate Use of Cloak and Dagger is a pop/punk tune that is little out of the ordinary. I usually hate this kind of stuff with a passion, but it's impossible not smile and give a nod of acknowledgement to the godly chorus. Not the most intense of songs obviously, and the same goes for the mildly boring follow-up yet attention-grabbing On and On Chameleon. Alarm All Assassins brings more anger to the table with male backing vocals, nice touches and more intense chorus. This is however one of the weaker tracks even though it kicks harder than most other songs on the album. Party All the Way to the Hospital picks things up, and delivers thoroughly through wild verses and roller-coaster upon roller-coaster of riffs. Clearly one of the best songs here, and it represents the band in a great way. If you're longing for the post-hardcore/punk elements I mentioned, you'll get bunches of it here. Double T n' Tokyo will knock you head first of your chair with a clean cut, short and uncompromising inaccessible hardcore-track that will excite the people with a heart for the genre. Only interrupted by octave-runner Red Ruin, originally a Wheelers and Dealers-song, the party continues with the amazing title-track which was supposed to be on Jeroan Drive's next album. A solid personal favourite, with all of the things you'd expect from this record, originality, pop, punk and hardcore packed into three minutes of sheer joy. The epic jam-like (Read: the guitar/drum part in the middle) Every Exception Has Its Rule completes an extremely stellar début from one of Norway's most hyped underground bands the last couple of years.

The only real disappointment with this is that there's just too little new stuff for those of us who have been following this band from the very beginning, and owning the EP's Five Inches of a Car Accident and Party All the Way to the Hospital. In addition to this 35 minutes feels way too short, especially when you think about the lack of new stuff. This is still very cool though, and maybe highly appreciated break, which some even yearn for, from double bass-blasting, deep growls and indefatigable tremolo-picking. Approach this with an open mind and you will be caught. Recommended.

Killing Songs :
Art for the Sake of Art, Incorporate Use of Cloak and Dagger, Party All the Way to the Hospital, Double T n' Tokyo, Ghostclocks, Every Exception Has Its Rule
Thomas quoted 82 / 100
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