Album Review: Survival of the Sickest by Bloodbath (Napalm Records)

Needing no introduction, Bloodbath are back with their sixth full length album, Survival of the Sickest which will be released on the 9th of September via Napalm Records.

The undisputed masters of old school death metal take us on another deep dive into the horrors of mortality and the foul side of the supernatural in an album that offers no respite from the horrors of reality.  Formed by Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström (both of Katatonia), Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth) and Dan Swanö (Edge Of Sanity) in 1998, Bloodbath devoted themselves to resurrecting the increasingly forgotten art of pure death metal. In 2014, they unveiled a new frontman – legendary Paradise Lost vocalist Nick Holmes, now redubbed Old Nick – and yet another macabre musical evolution in Grand Morbid Funeral.

Fast forward to 2022 – the world is in flames, and Survival Of The Sickest is here to make sure we know it. With the addition of new guitarist Tomas ‘Plytet’ Åkvik (Lik) onboard, Bloodbath’s latest album is hear to destroy with ten songs of ripping death metal frenzy.

Getting underway with no punches held, Zombie Inferno is a blistering start packed to the brim with aggressive riffs, pacey drums and screaming guitars. The devilish throat ripping vocals combine with the filthy riffing to create a bit of old school death metal magic. The aggression picks ups even further with Putrefying Corpse. It’s a dark and sinister track with deeper vocals and some expert guitar work in the riffs and leads. I love the speed and intensity of this track, as well as the wicked solos scattered across it. Dead Parade switches things up just a little, bringing a thick, bassy slowed down sound. The disgusting heaviness creates a thick atmosphere that threatens to engulf you. Bloodbath are a band in blistering form here.

Malignant Maggot Therapy hits some ridiculous speeds in drums and riffs along with a speedy solo. It’s hard as hell, vicious and unrelenting. Carved, which features Luc Lemay of Gorguts, has a bit of thick groove to it at points, at others just exploding in your face with visceral heaviness. Quick tempos, thunderous drums and proper headbanging riffs – it’s a pit filler, for sure. Born Infernal, To Die, Affliction of Extinction keep the intensity and quality coming with plenty of straight up frenetic heaviness but also plenty of excitement and variety within that old school death sound. Cracking solos, a touch of groove, vocal tone, variety and pace changes – Survival Of The Sickest has a lot to offer.

Tales of Melting Flesh is an absolute corker of a song. It oozes menace and intensity in it’s twisted tale. Heavy as you like but will lashings of thick bassy groove, you can jump from intense pitting to a slower head bang at will and the creepy slowdown is madly effective. As is the childlike warped melody that plays out at the end of this maniacal song. The penultimate track goes for the jugular. Environcide is pretty much a straight up, top quality death metal track without too much twisting and turning. It’s a face melter, a pit filler chock full of intense riffing, rolling drums and in your face vocals.

And that leads us to the closing track of Survival Of The Sickest with No God Before Me. Bloodbath have delivered an album of the utmost quality here but with this ending, they raise the bar even higher. A deliciously twisted track, it’s slow horror style with booming drums and vocals and cleaner, backing is special. A slow stomping style that encompasses you with it’s atmosphere before it builds up into a chaotic solo. The chorus is next level genius with the clean vocals really standing out. I love how the music fades away leaving just the clean vocals repeating the title, No God Before Me. Brilliant song.

With strong echoes of everything from Morbid Angel and Death through to Deicide and Obituary, Bloodbath evoke their most horrifying sonic scenarios to date on Survival of the Sickest. Helped along by a smattering of irresistible cameos from the great, good and ghoulish of the metal underground, including Barney Greenway (Napalm Death), Luc Lemay (Gorguts) and Marc Grewe (Morgoth), the album feels like it is special. Like a restart of a slowly disappearing genre. Bloodbath are a special band. We all know that already and, once again, they prove their worth and ability with an album that excites and energises your very being. Full of creativity, but while staying within the core death metal sound, Bloodbath raise the bar with every release and have done so here again.

A glorious return from a legendarily musical force, Survival Of The Sickest provides yet more proof that Bloodbath are the kings of the old school.

Get your preorder of Bloodbath’s Survival of the Sickest from Bandcamp by following the link.

Bloodbath Links

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