Bloodyard – Orchard of Corpses

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There’s something about independent bands that makes them shine, at least that’s how I see it. Something about how deep underground they are makes them somehow more attractive, and BLOODYARD is no different. An indie Death Metal band from the UK, their debut album “Orchard of Corpses” definitely has the production suitable for an old school band.

The production was the first thing I noticed, as it had an old school touch, but all the while it seemed soft. Not only this, but the production seemed different on some tracks, and it was especially noticeable between tracks one and two alone.

While the first track was definitely noteworthy for its smooth songwriting, the album really kicked in with “Mortem.” The progression of the main riff reached new levels of heavy with every turn, and the riffs weren’t all that complex. In fact, they were quite simple. It was followed up by “Rupture the Mask,” a groovy steamroller of riffs and action.

“Purge the Rot” made the next highlight, having the grooviest and smoothest riffs in the entire 42-minute runtime. Starting out with one of those “you’re not ready for what’s coming” type of riffs, the track pummeled once the main riffing got going. In the end, the track was only here to go as hard as possible.

The band’s proficiency in songwriting made the music smooth, and it was highlighted in the already soft production. There were moments, especially on tracks like “Mortem” and “All Hail the Crimson King” that shined for their sheer ability to progress one riff. Song progression is important for music such as this, and Bloodyard only proved that fact.

The nine-minute epic “Antithesis” concluded the record with steady riffs and one, if not the only, guitar solo. This was a fitting end to Bloodyard’s debut. As a whole, “Orchard of Corpses” proved to be a successful indie release. The band had their brand of steamrolling Death Metal down. And mixed with the band’s songwriting skills and old school production, the final product was rough around the edges but nevertheless devastating.

Songwriting: 9
Musicianship: 8
Memorability: 9
Production: 8