Album Review: Bloody Redemption – Hit to the Gore (Awakening Records)

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Bloody Redemption and their sophomore album ‘Hit to the Gore’ will be released on August 26th, 2022 via Awakening Records.

There’s never anything wrong with an album filled with the glorious sound of old-school death metal. An album that’s chunky, bilious and all about getting the head-banging going. Welcome to the sound of Hit to the Gore. An album that makes no apologies for where its inspirations come from, nor does it shy away from focusing on the core tenants of the sound.

From the moment the thick riffing, dirty percussion and gurgling vocals of Unknown Evil arrives, it’s fairly clear just what we’re in for here. Though, as the following Vultures Waiting proves, Bloody Redemption have occasional moments of flair too. After all, the important word in death metal is the word ‘metal’ and even Bloody Redemption’s harsh noise pays tribute to the style that started it all.

Don’t let the word ‘simple’ confuse you. Hit to the Gore is only simple in that it is undeniably and unmistakably death metal. However, that doesn’t mean Bloody Redemption aren’t doing interesting things with it. There’s a lot going on in the likes of Ancient Knowledge for example, the title track has some chilling vocal screams, throws out a class guitar solo and The Dark Sides of a Human Soul goes for a more sustained ejection of darkness.

With Beyond the Truth, Bloody Redemption deliver one of the album’s most head-banging inducing rhythms. Followed by riff chaos with Shotgun Lullaby and circle pit mayhem with Rupture of the Dam. The latter few tracks proving to be some of the finer moments on the entire album.

Strong stuff.

Bloody Redemption – Hit to the Gore Full Track Listing:

1. Unknown Evil
2. Vultures Waiting
3. Ancient Knowledge
4. Hit To the Gore
5. The Dark Sides of a Human Soul
6. Beyond The Truth
7. Shotgun Lullaby
8. Rupture of the Dam

Links

Bandcamp | Facebook | Awakening Records