Bretwaldas of Heathen Doom

[Eoin McLove]

Bretwaldas have a new EP that arrived this year and it sounds great. I somehow never picked up anything by these lads despite finding them oddly fascinating on the occasions I listened to them. The new stuff maybe sounds a little more refined than the older stuff but is still fairly rough and ready in a Venom, Amebix, The Meads of Asphodel sort of way. CD ordered!

https://bretwaldasofheathendoom.bandcamp.com/album/kingdom-of-killers

[ResidentOfBok]

Yeah, this is cool.

Vocals really have a Motorhead / Amebix vibe. It's pure rock 'n' roll in parts!

I get what you mean about the Meads of Asphodel connection, they seem to have a very similar aesthetic, wot with de obscure ye olde England-isms in their visual end of the things. That said, they don't sound quite as off-the-wall or BM as that band.   

[Eoin McLove]

True,  they don't veer into dance music halfway through a song for example 

The similarity remains none the less!

[Eoin McLove]

I had the EP on today for the first time in ages and it's so good. Return to the Earth is a ripper. Mid paced NWOBHM with gravelly BM vox. Perfect.

[Eoin McLove]

Summoning the Gatekeepers arrived today. Is it just me or does Twisted Tree sound like 'On Our Spiritual Deathbed' by Primordial? Looking forward to familiarising myself with this album over the coming weeks and months. Anyone else see the gatekeeper in the artwork? Took me a few looks to notice it...

Edit. It was Where Lie the Gods I was thinking of.

[Anvil]

Only bought a CD copy so haven't paid much attention to the artwork... had a quick look now and I must need new glasses though.

Been enjoying it so far. 

[Eoin McLove]

Squint at it and see if anything jumps out. It also might be me seeing things 

[Anvil]

There is a greenman or what looks to be a greenman between the two trunks just off centre to the right of the middle but otherwise I am seeing much. 

[Eoin McLove]

Yep. The shadows look like a tall figure guarding the forest. I wonder was it a fluke of photography or was it manipulated.

[Eoin McLove]

Just fired in a pre-order for the Seven Bloodied Ramparts LP reissue that Caligari are putting out at the end of November. I hope they continue to reissue all the old stuff 

I love the album cover. Quirky and funny but it also hints towards a darker, pagan era. A bit of Wickerman in there perhaps.

[DISRUPTER]

I have never heard of these before. They are right up my alley! Fuckin class 

[Eoin McLove]

Seven Bloodied Ramparts arrived today in one piece despite Caligary Records's best efforts. Such a light and flimsy bit of packaging to trust to make it from the US to Australia in one piece. Phew! It looks the business at least. Looking forward to spending some quality time with it 

Edit. I gave it a proper,  focused spin just now. What a deadly album. Strange to open with the least rocking tune on the whole thing but it really picks up the pace from there on. Cool lyrics, plenty of stylistic variety and nice details popping out in each song, and unique artwork.  You can hear  the Primordial influence on the last song,  Smite. But there's all sorts in there from Amebix and Motörhead to Killing Joke and NWOBHM style bits. It's fun but it's not silly or frivolous; in fact, it is quite dark. A real beaut of a thing.

[91/30]

I have never heard of these before. They are right up my alley! Fuckin class 

Same and yes mighty stuff indeed. Thanks for the recommendation