Album Review: Bloodbound – Field of Swords (Napalm Records)

Raise your swords up high: Bloodbound march forward with ‘Field of Swords’, out November 21st via Napalm Records. A concept album, ‘Field of Swords’ turns the page to another chapter in history, moving past the year 1066 and into the Middle Ages. As warfare evolves and the significance of forging iron with carbon leads to superior swordsmen, the bloodstained battlefields show new, grim faces.

The times, they are a-changin’, at least from a story perspective but as far as power metal goes, things remain the same. Though that’s hardly a complaint. Sure, it’s not really a genre with much in the way of innovation, but good power metal never goes out of style. Especially power metal with story-telling aspects and that is what Bloodbound’s new album delivers.

Eleven heavyweight efforts filled with horn throwing, head banging, chest beating, and sword raising sounds. It seems as though age and time isn’t denting Bloodbound’s impact as twenty years since they released their debut album, they’re sounding as potent as ever. All thanks to screaming, excitable efforts like the title track, the epic singalong As Empires Fall (a personal favourite as that chorus slays), and the raucous Defenders of Jerusalem.

It’s really cool to hear Bloodbound infuse a bit more emotion into their music as these stories are less about war-mongering and more about the toll, the loss, and the wider effects of warfare. Personally, that adds a welcome new dimension to, what is for the most part, power metal 101. Albeit very strong power metal 101.

I like it when Bloodbound expand their sonic palette so the flutes of the Code of Warriors are a welcome touch, but when they also let the riffs fly, the vocals soar, and the drums pound away in extravagant style, I’m rarely complaining. I’m looking at you Land of the Brave and Light the Sky. A pair of punchy power-driven efforts.

Another big highlight, thanks to the vein of emotional reality that runs through it, is Teutonic Knights. A more ‘grown up’ side to power metal, and one that proves to be highly addictive. Although that could just be Bloodbound as the album’s potency remains strong right to end, thanks to synthy bangers like Forged in Iron, soaring blockbusters like Pain and Glory, and chest thumpers like Born to be King.

War, war never changes.

Capping things off is The Nine Crusades, a glorious finale made all the stronger by the impeccable vocals of Brittney Slayes of powerhouse band, Unleash the Archers. A brilliant collaboration that ends the record in grin inducing fashion.

Good power metal never goes out of style, and this album is filled with good power metal.

Bloodbound – Field of Swords Track Listing:

1. Field of Swords
2. As Empires Fall
3. Defenders of Jerusalem
4. The Code of Warriors
5. Land of the Brave
6. Light the Sky
7. Teutonic Knights
8. Forged in Iron
9. Pain and Glory
10. Born to be King
11. The Nine Crusades (feat. Unleash the Archers)

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