BLOOD OF THE EARTH

BLOOD OF THE EARTH     “Beneath A Sky That Breaks” [EP]

By: Lord Randall

Tampa’s BLOOD OF THE EARTH returns two years after its initial and respectable outing “…And The Pillars Shook” with a second EP, “Beneath A Sky That Breaks”. 

The first noticeable change from the debut is the lineup augmentation courtesy vocalist J. Costa, also of THY WILL BE DONE. While the debut was interesting, its instrumental path akin to that of, say, a heavier PELICAN or more ragamuffin AMENRA, Costa’s presence here adds to the already sturdy weight crafted by musicians Jeff and Katie Golden. The title track immediately conjures sonic thunder, vocal lightning hurled forth from the summit of Mount Doom as the sky heaves above and land buckles beneath. This isn’t pretty in the least, not intended to be, but there is an overwhelming beauty to be found, one to which acolytes of the style will bow, and devotees recognize as their own. 

“The Constellation” wields a sword Floydian, Katie’s ethereal intonations blending with Costa burled howls and recitations resulting in what might be a blend of KING WOMAN and WHEN THE DEADBOLT BREAKS filtered through “A Saucerful Of Secrets”-era recording equipment. Stomping and strident, “Barren Oasis” is cracked and parched desert, broken hope after arrival at what was dreamt of as shelter, only to find absence of everything longed for, Middle Eastern keyboard patterns wrapping sinewy threads around the tune.

“Petrichor” ends the album proper (there’s a cover after, but I’ll leave you to it), and – while you’ll never accuse BLOOD OF THE EARTH of rushing ahead or playing “too fast” – the somber and sludge-born tone and tempo of what is crafted here is the stuff of torrential aural waters falling, rising, and ascending to flood level. We can but drown “…Beneath A Sky That Breaks…”

BLOOD OF THE EARTH