Artist: Baphomet’s Blood
Country: Italy
Label: Dying Victims Productions
Format: LP / CD
Year: 2026
After two records (and two demos) in the mid 00’s, that were as ramshackle as they were charming, the Italian Heavy-/Speed Metal band Baphomet’s Blood arrived at their third instalment in 2009 and baptized it ‘Metal Damnation’. A clear continuation of their tried-and-tested, old school, no-bullshittery kind of Heavy Metal, you would think. And, in a way, that’s certainly the case. But, the first, subtle changes in their formula began appear on this third record.
The first two albums were really a good and fun listen for those who prefer their Heavy Metal as simple, dirty and ugly as possible. The cigarettes, cheap whiskey and moustache kind of Heavy Metal that has a strong German connotation and has lots of parallels with the old Mausoleum Records roster from the early to mid-80s. No pretentions, no fuzz; just riffs and plain fun.
‘Metal Damnation’, for the most part, is cast in from the same fire. It’s still mostly about the riffs, the heavy propulsive drive in the simple drums, the low rumblings of the bass and Necrovomiterror’s barking vocals. But whether it was a conscious choice or simply a natural consequence of the fact that they were getting better and better at playing their instruments: ‘Metal Damnation’ sounds a lot fuller, and much of that infectious, endearingly clumsy quality has been stripped away. Part of this may also be down to the heavier production, which makes everything sound harder and more powerful than ever – certainly compared to the 2006 album ‘Satanic Metal Attack’. One of the most striking examples of this musical “progression” are the solos, which are definitely much better and even sound rather sophisticated.
As a result, this might be the most “accessible” record the Italians came up with until then and it was an album that was appreciated by many a headbanger when it came out. Yet, looking (and listening) to it now, anno 2026, it turned out that ‘Metal Damnation’ was some sort of a transitional record and the band would go on to shake off more of its rawest bits and pieces. While that certainly didn’t mean Baphomet’s Blood went the same distance as, say, Enforcer, there was a bit of criticism from die-hard fans from the early days who thought the band took away a bit of its soul.
Although I can definitely feel where that sentiment is coming from and I also prefer the first two albums myself, I think ‘Metal Damnation’ is more than worthy of the Baphomet’s Blood name (same for the releases that would come). It still as close to Motörhead, Killer (of which they covered ‘Ready For Hell’ from the eponymous 1981 debut album as the closing track), Venom, Blizzard, (early) Onslaught, Bulldozer and Tank as ever. In other words: ‘Metal Damnation’ is still a fist in the face of every Heavy Metal fan who thinks Sabaton or any random gimmicky Napalm Records Heavy Metal band is the bomb. No, kids, this is the real deal!
