Doomriders
Grand Blood
Release Date: Oct 15, 2013
Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Heavy Metal
Record label: Deathwish Records
Music Critic Score
How the Music Critic Score works
Buy Grand Blood from Amazon
Album Review: Grand Blood by Doomriders
Fairly Good, Based on 2 Critics
Based on rating 7/10
Doomriders come with a fine musical pedigree, helmed by Nate Newton (Converge, Jesuit, Old Man Gloom), with their third full-length, Grand Blood, produced by Converge bandmate Kurt Ballou (Godcity Studio). Grand Blood is more wrenching and acrid that their last effort, Darkness Comes Alive, replacing the smooth roll of sludge with broken, shrapnel-sharp hardcore. While there are still plenty of weighty, tarry guitar tones, the mood is angrier, more violent and starving.
Based on rating 5.8/10
Doomriders are largely known as the rockier side project of Converge bassist Nate Newton, who handles guitars and lead vocals in this quartet. Compared to the Massachusetts hardcore institution's compelling, tightly packed explosives, anything else would seem “relaxed,” but carrying over Converge's focused barrage to Doomriders works against Newton on this latest release for Deathwish, Grand Blood. Across these 11 songs, Newton doesn't allow himself or the band to loosen up enough to let the material breathe, and this is the kind of stuff that really does want to let go and rock.
'Grand Blood'
is available now