Frozen Blood - Revenge

Labels: Adirondack Black Mass/Death In Pieces Records/Diabolical Summoning Records/Dry Cough Records/Excarnation Records/Frozen Screams Imprint

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 10 Feb 2023

Tracklist:

 1. Revenge

2.  Castración Violenta

3. Esquizofrenia Podrida

4. Mercilessly

5. Die By The Sword (Slayer Cover)

This debut EP from Chilean death metal duo Frozen Blood has been in my personal tape collection for sometime now but I hadn't realised for how long. It's been over twelve months since A.A and S.A released their first body of songs. UK label Dry Cough Records were first to commit the EP to tape, before Mexican label Death In Pieces Records produced a cd/tape run. Brazilian label Excarnation Records followed soon after with their own cd pressing for the South American fans, while both Chilean label Diabolical Summoning Records and US label Frozen Screams Imprint did additional tape runs. Note: all info courtesy of Metal Archives, so I can't vouch for it's accuracy but I hope it's correct.

A year in metal music seems like ten years, such is the pace at which bands release new music. This debut EP from Chile’s Frozen Blood was released thirteen months ago today. Beginning with the title-track ‘Revenge’, you can hear exactly why Dry Cough Records have been championing this band over the last year or so. Frozen Blood’s take on the sub-genre is raw and blasting straight from the off, which is absolutely perfect. The harrowingly named ‘Castración Violenta’ is a mix of blackened-death and doom, with crisp percussion and similarly expressive guitar melodies. It twists and turns in various ways throughout it’s near three-minute playing time, proving that even when the duo turns up the urgency, they still know how to bring on the gloom.

‘Esquizofrenia Podrida’ oozes old-school ferocity and (dare I say it) charm. It’s a glorious slab of South American extremity that overpowers everything in it’s path, especially annoying and noisy neighbours! I haven’t knowingly been on the receiving end of a noise complaint before, so go figure. Frozen Blood’s final original song ‘Mercilessly’ is also their longest song, which is absolutely fine because it slays (no pun intended. You’ll understand why shortly). One again, that captivating melodic guitar work makes an appearance towards the end of the song before it gets overtly extreme. The way it fades out is a bit stark but it’s to be expected given what’s to follow.

Slayer’s ‘Die By The Sword’ is Frozen Blood’s choice of cover to round out this EP and I can totally understand why, as it matches their frantic and raw approach pretty damn well. They don’t try to make it into something it’s not, yet they inject their own personality into it at the same time. Metal purists probably hate covers, especially Slayer fans but there’s nothing to be afraid of here. Frozen Blood stay true to their own sound and approach. It’s much more enjoyable that way and it’s no surprise that so many independent labels jumped to help them spread Revenge around the globe.

You can stream and purchase Revenge digitally via bandcamp below:-

Frozen Blood Instagram - @frozenblood_osdm

Physical copies are still available from the below link:-

Death In Pieces Records - https://deathinpiecesrecs.bigcartel.com/category/releases

Death In Pieces Records - https://www.facebook.com/deathinpiecesrecs

Diabolical Summoning Records - https://www.facebook.com/DiabolicalSummoningRecords

Dry Cough Records - https://www.facebook.com/DryCoughRecords

Excarnation Records - https://www.facebook.com/excarnrecs

Frozen Screams Imprint - @frozen_screams_imprint Instagram

There is also a vinyl pressing of Revenge coming via Adirondack Black Mass, so keep an eye out for news here - https://www.facebook.com/AdirondackBlackMass