Artist: Blood Spirit
Country: Australia
Label: Into The Pentagram
Formats: Demo Tape
Year: 2026
It’s a bit hard to imagine, but despite Drowning The Light’s ever-intense release schedule, mastermind Azgorh has also found time to join a new band called Blood Spirit. He has formed this band with Wraith, a fellow member of the Order Of The Black Serpent and best known for his work with Nazxul and Tyrannic Deluge from Tyrannic. Under the title ‘Zeal For Death’, this trio is releasing a preview of what will eventually take shape as the full-length album ‘Granite Eternity’, due to be released later this year.
‘Zeal For Death’ is a two-track demo tape which, if I’ve understood correctly, will also feature on the upcoming album, but for now at least gives a very good impression of what Blood Spirit is all about. Despite the presence of Tyrannic Deluge, Blood Spirit feels above all like a hybrid of Nazxul and Drowning The Light from around ten years ago. The Black Metal is both dreamy and firmly rooted in the old-school aesthetics of the 1990s. It strikes a good balance between classic and modern Black Metal, which means it can appeal to a fairly wide audience.
The atmospheric pieces, which leave room for melody, humming keyboards and repetitive riffs, are at times reminiscent of the better Russian and Ukrainian acts such as Drudkh or Branikald. The faster tracks, on the other hand, feel as though they were recorded in 1999, reinforcing the dual sense of shifting between the past and the present. But what stands out most are Azgorh’s vocals, which are quite atypical for him and actually sound nothing like the way he uses his voice in Drowning The Light. The 90s vibe he brings to it fits perfectly within Blood Spirit’s concept.
It is difficult to predict to what extent the atmosphere of the upcoming album will move like tidal waves between 90s and contemporary Black Metal, but for now, ‘Zeal For Death’ leaves an excellent impression. ‘Granite Eternity’ is an album to look forward to, which is perhaps not so surprising given this trio of highly accomplished musicians.
