Necronomicon Ex Mortis/Bloodfeast Ritual - You’ve Got Red On You Review • Strah

Undoubtedly, this is also the year of split albums, a long gone Metal music tradition which is clearly making its grand and espetacular comeback. Necromicon Ex Mortis had their very interesting 2024’s “You and Your Friends Are Dead: Game Over” reviewed here. For Bloodfeast Ritual this is their debut with us, which, by the way, I have to say that instrumentwise is very, very interesting with the guitars showing some very unusual influences for Death Metal.

The story of “You’ve Got Red on You” isn’t just one of collaboration; it’s a celebration of two bands at the height of their creativity. Necromicon Ex Mortis have been on a tear, releasing five EPs in just two years, each one expanding on their blend of horror-inspired themes and ‘80s shred virtuosity. Bloodfeast Ritual, meanwhile, continue to carve their niche with their progressive yet visceral approach to death metal. Together, they’ve created a record that is as much a love letter to the genre’s roots as it is a bold step forward. Behind the scenes, after taking a closer look to the bands’ line up I realized they share the drummer Joey Ferretti. Well, this may be the best explanation the this split album.

Bloodfeast Ritual had the honor to commence the album with “Soul Annihilation” that soon proves the band is somewhat distinct from their Death Metal peers. There is a progressive instrumental grip that drenches the song and the album. However, the band handles all their instrumental influences in a very natural way. I felt some Rush influence in its initial seconds with the bass and the guitar doubling the lines. The outcome is an explosive combination of Old School Death Metal with elements so far as Jazz or modern classical music. Following track “Decaying Humanity” commences with a cynematic combination of effects that soon leaves the scene to an almost Doom Metal sequence. Here the band uses again the doubling bass and guitar lines which may be one of the band’s signature. The other would be the rapid shifts in cadence, rhythm, speed, and mood. The instrumental “The Music of Eric Zahn” would be a very good example of what the band has to deliver. Its combination of ethereal elements with some Progressive Rock and Jazz is unbeatable. Interestingly, there is no abuse of the beloved phrygian mode many bands are using these days. The band shows its possible to go beyond using the usual modes.

Now Necromicon Ex Mortis have surprised me again as they did with their “You and Your Friends Are Dead: Game Over.” The guitars, in a general manner, are much, but much better than they were back then. The duo Michael Nystrom Bala and Manuel Barbará evolved a lot. They reminded me of Suicidal Tendencies guitar duo Rocky George and Mike Clark with their well-known 1990’s “Lights…Camera…Revolution!.” Album warmer “Bound in Human Flesh” has some guitar lines and overtones that approach Suicidal Tendencies‘. It also totally changes the split’s mood with a raw and faster approach. Its nervous drumming gives that urgency Death Metal needs. I still see more Thrash Metal influences than Death Metal here, even though, the band has invested more in their Old School Death Metal grip. The cynematic “Unspeakable Swamp Creature” has incredible guitar leads as intro. Its main riffing is totally taken from NWOBHM. Just check it out. A very, but very interesting track. The split closes with “Misery,” the track that reminds me the most of Suicidal Tendencies with its sharp guitar shredding and the wall of sound taken from rhythm guitars. It’s the track which will make fans headbang the most. Pay close attention to the incredible beats drummer Joey Ferretti does here with his pedal technique. The combination Thrash Metal and Old School Death Metal has evolved here into something unbeatable.