“I can hear the angels singing, as I see the world be laid to rest.“
Blood Command have thrived over the last decade on a sound that is packed with energy and moments of last impression. Conjuring together post-hardcore fury, pop rock grooves and punk’s angst, it’s a cocktail that, heading into their latest record, still feels fresh and exciting. Very few bands, if any, offer up a sound similar to Blood Command, leaving little space for what they have to offer to feel overdone or tiresome. Even with a stretched out album release cycle, that has seen five of the ten tracks release as singles, there is still a curiosity to see what Blood Command will come up with. Adding to this is the addition of new vocalist Nikki Brumen, formerly of group Pagan, her vocals giving the group a new dynamic to pull listeners in with.
With this iteration of Blood Command, with Brumen leading the charge, there’s an extra edge to the group on Praise Argmageddonism. Brumen’s vocal performance is filled with a fierce attitude that quickly becomes the record’s crux and standout point. On brutaliser track “A Villain’s Monologue“, Brumen’s harsh, shriek vocals wouldn’t feel out of place at the recent Outbreak Festival in Manchester. Tracks like that and the hardcore sprint that is “Everything You Love Will Burn” see Blood Command add a new weapon to their arsenal. It also begs the question of what if Blood Command leant further into it, and offered up moments where the unit go even heavier and even more hardcore.
The blend of sounds that Blood Command produce are still very much present on Praise Armageddonism. “The End Is Her” has the structure and chorus of a quintessential pop rock track. Brumen’s clean vocal hooks fill the track, with catchy moments like “You should be humble before you’re throwing that stone” becoming stuck in the mind. Midpoint track “A Questionable Taste In Friends” continues in this vein, with dancing drum grooves and sweetly fitted in synths. Combing both the aforementioned sounds of punk and pop rock is the record’s finest offering, “Nuns Guns & Cowboys“. The furious harsh vocals of Brumen punch through the verses, leading into a huge chorus that becomes entrancing with its performance and hooks. While it might be a bold claim, it’s difficult not to believe that “Nuns, Guns & Cowboys” is the best thing Blood Command have written to date.
Entering a new era with Nikki Brumen now on vocals, something has clicked with Blood Command that perhaps didn’t come with their previous work. Praise Armageddonism ends on near 8-minute extravaganza “Last Call For Heaven’s Gate“, which sees the return of brass instruments and bombastic riffs. The thrill of the record’s 35-minute run time will yearn to be returned to, and while not looking to move on too quickly from this monument of a record, it leaves a deep excitement at what the future holds for Blood Command as they move into this new phase.
8/10
Praise Armageddonism is out this Friday, July 1st, and can be pre-ordered here.