On a handful of occasions over the past few years, I've found myself longing for a deathcore revival movement. While the initial boom certainly produced its fair share of lazy, remarkably bad acts, the emergence of bands like Venom Prison and Slaughter to Prevail along with the inspired returns of Despised Icon and Whitechapel reminded me of how much fun deathcore can be when its executed well. That wish may be on track to be fulfilled with the release of Lifeblood-the sophomore LP from Canadian outfit Brand of Sacrifice-which is without question the most creative, engaging and deeply satisfying release to come out of this genre in quite some time.
What immediately stands out about Brand of Sacrifice is their ability to play around with the conventions of the genre while still operating firmly within them. On the first half of the album alone, the listener is treated to slamming death metal verses that lead into majestic choir hooks ("Animal"), pig squealing breakdowns that are accompanied by glitchy electronic programming ("Demon King") and probably the most prominent extreme metal sitar use since The HAARP Machine's Disclosure was released in 2012 ("Prophecy of the Falcon").
By dedicating themselves so firmly to experimentation, Brand of Sacrifice positions themselves as these kind of maximalist maestros who take great pride in finding ways to add unconventional exclamation point flourishes that add depth to their particularly heavy brand of deathcore. This dedication to incorporating genres/instruments that aren't typically part of the extreme metal arsenal generates this wall-to-wall electricity that powers a familiar yet unpredictable atmosphere that delivers all of the expected genre cornerstones and hard left turns with the same dazzling level of sinister gravitas. For a genre that isn't exactly synonymous with surprises, crafting a record that is full of them is no small feat.
It wouldn't be fair to keep gushing about all of the creativity and showmanship present on Lifeblood without singling out the individual efforts that made this momentous achievement possible. Vocalist Kyle Anderson gives a simply monstrous vocal performance that makes brilliant use of the entire scope of screamed vocals, drummer Rob Zalischi approaches every song with a level of breakneck intensity that makes it feel like it's going to be the last time he's ever going to sit behind the kit and lead guitarist Michael Leo Valeari basically dictates the tone of each song with a playing style that frequently veers between chaotic technicality and punishing simplicity. Not only are these guys skilled enough to weave together a very complex musical tapestry that covers so much ground in only 42 minutes, they bring an infectious level of energy to their songwriting that supercharges each track with this jolt of pure life that's comparable to the feeling of watching a highly entertaining movie or TV show that hooks you on a pure visceral level from start to finish. That combination of skill and visible love of what they're doing is an untouchable pairing that really breaks down the brilliance of Lifeblood in the simplest terms possible.
Lifeblood is a bona fide juggernaut release that will hopefully be just the first truly excellent metal album of 2021. Brand of Sacrifice has brought out a level of over-the-top excitement for a pure deathcore act that I haven't felt in at least a decade and I can't wait to dive into their earlier efforts to see how they compare to the exquisitely-crafted brutal epics that occupy this record.
Grade: A
Standout Tracks
1.Demon King
2.Lifeblood
3.Prophecy of the Falcon (feat. Frankie Palmeri)
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