This is the full-length debut of Sweden's Irrbloss, a folk/black metal hybrid who are riding off a pair of decent demos in the past few years. Bloodline is a solid offering with a professional sound and some well-written tracks, sure to please fans of the pagan black style."Norse Horde" opens with a glorious, churning riff interspersed in blast beats. The chords used mirror the title well, and there is an excellent riff at around the 2:48 mark which will have you pounding your mead horn. "Keep on Walking" builds upon its opening chords as it weaves a melodic tapestry of Viking-like metal that should do any fan of Moonsorrow proud. "As We Lived" has a great lead-in riff with an air of mystique, and gets even better during the fetching verses. "Gaze Upon Me" is largely a slower piece with some truly majestic melodies amidst its faster bursts. Other excellent tracks are "Heresy" with its brief acoustic opening; the rocking "Midwinters Eve", and the dense title track which ends the debut.
Bloodline sounds fantastic, like the work of a far more experienced band. All instruments are balanced below the vocals of Irrbloss (yep, oddly he uses the same stage name as the band, which is Swedish for 'will-o-wisp'), which are well delivered snarls. The album has enough texture and depth to it that fans of other pagan black bands of quality would probably find it worthwhile. So if you're a sucker for Moonsorrow, Enslaved and the like, give them a listen.
Verdict: Win [8.5/10]
http://www.myspace.com/irrblossband
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