Release Date: February 07th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Portents In Blood - Track Listing:
1.Conqueror 03:40
2.Border Reivers 03:24
3.Dagon 05:30
4.Anchorite 04:51
5.Pyromancer 04:29
6.Babsovet 05:24
Review
Portents In Blood is the debut EP from Manchester, UK, Proto-Doom/Stoner Metallers Babsovet who conjure up themes and grooves inspired by the likes of TROUBLE, Pentagram, Witchfinder General and Saint Vitus. There’s an over the top HEAVY METAL sound appearing within Babsovet’s vocals and lyrics which is pure NWOBHM at it’s creative core. The aggressive energy and outlandish sounds remind me of VALIENT THORR jamming with IRON MAIDEN at times especially on the superb opening tracks of Conqueror and Border Reivers.
Babsovet are simply having fun with these tracks and it’s hard not to join in as it’s so wonderfully addictive and completely outrageous at the same time. The music moves along at an exciting fast pace with a sublime CLASSIC HARD ROCK sound allowing the band to play intense grooves that these guys are hugely talented and totally serious about what they do.
The EP does become slightly more serious on the standout third track Dagon which changes the mood drastically for the EP. With a gloomy soundclip opening the track and foreboding vocals allowing the music to become more dominant and violent at the same time. This is Babsovet fully aligning themselves to the true world of HEAVY METAL with their music having a slightly BATTLE METAL complex at times with an excellent use of Psychedelic textures.
The second half of the EP allows Babsovet to embrace themselves further into the world of Battle Doom and Proto-Metal with moments of Psych Rock, Stoner Metal and Classic Hard Rock perhaps becoming quite thoughtful at times on tracks such as Anchorite, and Babsovet. The final track of Babsovet is the other standout track on the EP with the band once again showing a wealth of Proto-Doom creativity that could allow these guys to have quite the career within the underground scene.
Production values are aggressively raw and minimal which allows Babsovet plenty of opportunity to wreak HAVOC and play a non-stop style of splendid and thrilling grooves that never outstay their welcome.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
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