Father forgive me because we have to talk about Brand of Sacrifice’s Lifeblood (Blood Blast Distribution). Listen, I really wanted to enjoy Lifeblood as we need to build up new stars in heavy music, but this simply isn’t it chief. Maybe if we stripped the many layers of triggered drums, modulated vocals, unimportant guest appearances and waves of synths we could find something worth working with. But as it stands, I cannot sanction this buffoonery.

The biggest takeaway from Lifeblood is that it’s so steeped in musical cliches that it would’ve sounded dated in 2012. It seems like all the lessons from the Deathcore boom are nakedly on display here including tuning really low to mask the fact the riffs aren’t up to snuff. Oh, and that time-tested tradition of not letting a song breathe for a few seconds and establish mood before vocalist Kyle Anderson barks up a storm of incoherent bullshit.

Do you want to know how to spot how brutal an album is? Are you ready? Are you sure? Well, let me tell you, Lifeblood has not one but two musical interludes. Heavy stuff. Listen, fellas, your album is 41 minutes long, I don’t need the bathroom breaks. But what about the breakdowns you ask. Yeah, like in the golden age of Southern Californian deathcore of yesteryear they’re here and get clipped at the knees by the obviously triggered drums and electronic nonsense you’ll find on the title track. Still unconvinced by the depravity of it all? Well, the big guns are drawn on ‘Prophecy of the Falcon.’ That one’s got the king of extreme himself, Emmure’s Frankie Palmeri on as a guest. Top that. 

Lifeblood is death metal for the same folks who are excited about Zack Snyder’s Justice League. It’s heavy music for that kid who drank a whole beer one time when his dad wasn’t looking. 

Buy the album here: https://linktr.ee/brandofsacrifice

5 / 10

HANS LOPEZ