Bloodbound Tabula Rasa
by Derric Miller
Staff Writer
When Bloodbound released Nosferatu back in 2006, the smart money said these guys may be the “next big thing” in Power/Progressive Metal. Nosferatu was one of the best releases of the year for many critics, who embraced the concept album with a wicked cool storyline, and it was one of those creations that you can go back to again and never get bored with. Then, the band sort of went in various directions, the most critical move was losing singer Urban Breed and bringing on Michael Bormann, a tremendous singer who found himself slightly out of his comfort-zone playing this type of Heavy Metal. Whatever momentum they still kept building, and Book of the Dead was still successful by all rights. But it was not Nosferatu, it was just “good.” Now Urban Breed is back, and so is Bloodbound.
Tabula Rasa opens with “Sweet Dreams of Madness,” with eerie keys and bludgeoning, downtuned riffs from guitarists Tomas Olsson and Henrick Olsson. It was probably unfair to Michael Bormann or anyone else to try to replace Breed’s presence in Bloodbound, because when you create something as preturnately grand as Nosferatu, how do you replace or even stand up to it? (Breed is going to experience the same problem, as he also sings for the band Pyramaze and tries to replace Matt Barlow, the replacement for original singer Lance King; even Barlow couldn’t live up to his name and take King’s place in that band.) The point is, this is how Bloodbound should sound, and it’s awesome …
“Take One” is one of the highlights on Tabula Rasa, mainly because of the mysterious lyrics like “What if it’s all a lie? Or just a waste of time?” and the rhythm and soaring vocal presence Breed exudes when he asks these questions. It doesn’t hurt that masterful guitar leads flash between the chorus and next verses either. Bloodbound, when they do it right, create mammoth anthems that few bands can replicate, and year one of those anthems on “Take One.”
The title track, “Tabula Rasa,” probably owns the best chorus on the release, especially the last refrain, “Tabula Rasa, what I am and who I was before … who I was before!” Reminds you of Mark Twain, who uttered, “I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it.” Bloodbound can be a Thinking Man’s band, and you will enjoy their music exponentially more if you pay attention to the lyrics instead of just pumping your fists and guzzling mead.
The best track, though, is the haunting “Night Touches You.” Breed, ever since Tad Morose, has not always been able to sell his softer vocals; he just seems more honest and heartfelt when belting out the angrier, grittier vocals. Well, put that thought to rest, because “Night Touches You” is amazing, especially vocally. When you get to the chorus, “Night touches you … forever. Night touches you … forever!” you will hear why Bloodbound wanted him back. When Breed does best, though, is change keys and add a serious touch to his vocals on the next chorus. Again, when Bloodbound is good … they are damn good.
So what’s not up to par? “Tabula Rasa Pt. II (Nothing At All)” sounds a lot like they are trying to be Dream Theater. They don’t need to do that. The lyrics lose their potency as they go for the same rhyme scheme as the original original chorus: “Tabula Rasa, take me now, or take me don’t you know … don’t you know.” Also, “Plague Doctor” is heavy, but the talk-singing is slightly grating and you won’t come back to it too often. “Twisted Kind of Fate” is good, but nothing compared to “Tabula Rasa” or even “Sweet Dreams of Madness.”
The most curious element is the closing track, “All Rights Reserved.” On the surface, this title doesn’t fit in anywhere on the release — rarely does Bloodbound title something so mundane and commonplace. It would almost seem like they have run out of steam on lines like, “I need your name, address and number, maybe date of birth.” One thing they do prove is that regardless of what they write about, or even if their lyrics are boring, the music and vocals will always impress.
Tabula Rasa is the recording they should have made after Nosferatu. For those who initially became fans because of Bormann, you are in for a diet of Metal. Breed fits Bloodbound, and while Tabula Rasa is a strong release, they’ve already proven they can do better, and with Breed back in the band, will do so again.
Label: Blistering Records
Track listing:
1. Sweet Dreams Of Madness
2. Dominion 5
3. Take One
4. Tabula Rasa
5. Night Touches You
6. Tabula Rasa Pt.II (Nothing At All)
7. Plague Doctor
8. Master Of My Dreams
9. Twisted Kind Of Fate
10. All Rights Reserved
HRH Rating: 7.6/10