Artist: Blodoffer
Country: Poland
Label: Under The Sign Of Garazel Productions / Zombi Danz Records
Formats: 12″ EP / Demo Tape
Year: 2024
Even if you have no idea what to expect from a debut demo from an anonymous Polish one-man operation, you know that you are dealing with sheer quality if Zombi Danz Records and Under The Sign Of Garazel Productions are involved. Both labels have proven to have an excellent nose for underground Black Metal, especially Zombi Danz Records digs deep into the most obscure corner to unearth gems with a distinct ancient and occult sound and ditto aesthetics. Blodoffer is a band that seamlessly fits in the revered Belgian label’s roster.
With just over 20 minutes Blodoffer serves you with utterly regressive bass-heavy Black Metal that is mostly aligned with early Barathrum. But also traces of old Samael, Mystifier, Varathron, Xantotol, Beherit and Necromantia are easily to pick up in these four tracks. The heavy emphasis on the bass might remind you on some classic heavy Doom Metal as well. After all, Reverend Bizarre’s penchant for the heavy bass-driven repetitiveness of Beherit and Barathrum went a lot further than only covering Beherit’s ‘The Gate Of Nanna’. The use of organs, although rather deeply tucked away in the production, might sound strangely familiar as well. Of course it is a wild guess, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the illustrious figure behind Blodoffer has heard a couple of Abysmal Grief and Abhor records in his life. But whether or not that is the case, the haunting and eerie organs, even when they are hardly audible at times, add a thoroughly sinister atmosphere to the music that pushes the music even further into those boggy Black/Doom territories.
With this ancient sounding Black/Doom Metal amalgam Blodoffer connects with the current generation of (mostly) Belgian and Finnish bands. If you happen to have liked Perverted Ceremony, Forbidden Temple, Phlegethon’s Majesty, Moonfall, Darkera, Ceremonial Torture and Funerealm Gloom Blodoffer might just be your cup of woeful tea as well. ‘Hostis Mundi’ is currently available as a demo tape through Zombi Danz Records and will see its vinyl treatment (of which you can see the cover art on this page) this summer via Under The Sign Of Garazel Productions.
