Release Date: October 16th 2026. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Blood That I Spill Turns To Fire - Tracklist
1.Only in the eyes of others
2.El Cuervo
3.Blood that I spill turns to fire 05:22
4.The Sorrow hides
5.Protector of realm
6.Against the light
7.Shrines 06:51
Members
Mattias Nööjd - Vox / guitar
Jacob Madetoja - Bass
Joakim Olsson - Drums
Review
Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers Firebreather return in glorious Psychedelic fashion with their epic fourth album Blood That I Spill Turns To Fire. This is their first album in four years, the band teaming up with the mighty Heavy Psych Sounds for this release. The whole record sees Firebreather drifting further to an epic style of Post-Doom and Post-Stoner musical abyss. The sound is quite progressive with some flashy and grounded instrumental melodies forming from the very start inspired by the likes of High On Fire, SLEEP, Mastodon and Shrinebuilder.
Though Firebreather have always been bold and brash in equal measure to apply that classic style of Swedish Heavy Metal direction into their music. However, the modern Psychedelic and Cosmic surroundings have a distorted and riff-centric delivery which is heard throughout the album. Lead vocalist Mattias Nööjd develops a different style of vocals for this record as they have a more aggressive and direct sound compared to Firebreather’s previous albums.
There’s a sudden influx of FUZZED OUT sounds that merges across the Post-Doom and Post-Stoner spectrum with an Atmospheric Sludge Rock appetite being heard within the opening tracks of Only In The Eyes Of Others, El Cuervo and Blood That I Spill Into The Fire. There’s some great modern day STADIUM ROCK aspect that shows how FIrebreather are thinking further ahead of the conventions held within the underground rock/metal scene. Even though the music is constantly aggressive and brilliantly heavy, there’s a few cool sounding quieter moments that see Firebreather apply a different creative style into their music.
Firebreather have a determined Sludge Metal focus to their music which reminds me of their earlier albums and perhaps even back further Mattias’s days with his original band GALVANO. Though, Firebreather still demonstrates a thrilling modern Spaced Out Doom advantage on the following tracks: Blood That I Spill Turns To Fire, The Sorrow Tides, Against The LIght and Shrines.
There are moments where you think certain instrumental passages feel so out of place but a few seconds later Firebreather injects an outstanding psychedelic element into the mix and the album becomes so much better for it. The album is full of intense musical solos that allows every band member to shine in their own unique way especially on Joakim Olsson putting in a massive drumming performance from start to finish. Credit must also go to Jacob Madetoja on Bass who develops some devastating sounds that puts a whole level of destructive volume into the mix which allows Mattias’s thrilling guitars to do some lasting damage especially on the later stages of the record.
Blood That I Spill Turns To Fire is the type of album that sounds superbly original and eeriely familiar at the same time which is one of the main strengths of the album. I also adored the understated and highly aggressive delivery that Firebreather applies to the heaviest and bombastic parts of the album which is spread throughout different sections of the record.
Firebreather had to deliver a HUGE SOUNDING record such as this and they fully deliver on all fronts with tremendous production values allowing Blood That I Spill Turns To Fire having an unpredictable force of nature quality and destructive energy that leaves you emotionally drained every time you listen to the album.
This is another outstanding record from Firebreather and one that will no doubt be making a strong case for being considered as one of the best albums of the year.
Words by Steve Howe
