BLOODBATH — The Fathomless Mastery (review)

BLOODBATH — The Fathomless Mastery album cover Album · 2008 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
UMUR
"The Fathomless Mastery" is the 3rd full-length studio album by Swedish death metal act Bloodbath. The album was released through Peaceville Records in October 2008. There have been two lineup changes since the release of "Nightmares Made Flesh (2004)" as lead vocalist Peter Tägtgren has been replaced by a returning Mikael Åkerfeldt, and guitarist/bassist Dan Swanö has been replaced by Per 'Sodomizer' Eriksson. The remaining members of the lineup are Anders Nystrom (guitars), Jonas Renkse (bass), and Martin Axenrot (drums). All prolific names who are associated with acts like Opeth, Katatonia, and Witchery. This lineup was however already in place for the recording of the "Unblessing the Purity" EP from March 2008.

Stylistically the material on the 11 track, 41:38 minutes long album continue the old school death metal style of its predecessors, but with the same slightly more brutal twist that the band had also applied to the "Unblessing the Purity (2008)" EP. I´m not sure if it´s a production trick, but Bloodbath just sound a lot more brutal on both the EP and on "The Fathomless Mastery", than they do on the preceding releases. As always the listner is treated to high level musicianship, which isn´t surprising considering the musicians involved. Tägtgren did a great job on "Nightmares Made Flesh (2004)", but the return of Åkerfeldt is also welcome. He delivers a strong and commanding growling vocal performance throughout the album.

Although the brutality factor is turned up a notch, "The Fathomless Mastery" is otherwise not an album featuring many surprises. Bloodbath were never about surprises though and what you get here is the epitome of high quality old school death metal, played by seasoned veterans of the genre...and don´t mistake that as meaning dinosaurs, because these guys deliver their music with a youthful passion and a burning conviction. This album reeks high class in all departments from musicianship, to songwriting, to the powerful, detailed, and brutal sound production.

One of the strenghts of Bloodbath is that they are equally interesting when they play heavy parts as when they play fast and they seamlessly combine tempos and various riff styles on their songs. A brutal fast-paced track like "Slaughtering the Will to Live" is for example followed by the heavy "Mock the Cross", but you are never in doubt that it´s the same band playing. Not all tracks stand out equally much, but all tracks are consistent in quality and style, so there is not much difference between the best tracks on the album and the least remarkable ones. Upon conclusion "The Fathomless Mastery" is yet another high quality death metal release by Bloodbath and a 4 - 4.5 star (85%) rating is deserved.
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