Blood Countess are a black metal band from the UK and this is their second album.
After Blood Countess’s absolutely savage performance at this year’s Reaper Fest, it’s now time to see what they’re capable of on record. Can Imperatrix Sanguinis capture the band’s blood-soaked raw vitality across its 39-minute running time?
The simple answer, is yes.
Imperatrix Sanguinis is steeped in second wave ferocity. It’s old-school and vicious, taking influence from the more aggressive and bloodthirsty aspects of the 90s scene. Blood Countess are here to rend flesh and devour souls.
Despite the band’s gleeful delight in inflicting damage and suffering, Imperatrix Sanguinis is not a one-dimensional blast fest. Blood Countess make effective use of blackened melodies and atmospheric darkness, making for a record that’s more well-rounded than its sharpened fangs might initially make you think. Of course, it’s hostile black metal, dripping with blood, but within the ancient second wave framework, there is a lot to enjoy and admire about the band’s approach to black metal. There is a common mistake that so many bands fall foul of – the pointless interlude – but other than that misstep, Imperatrix Sanguinis is pure class.
With scything riffs do the band reap their malevolent tally. With melodic violence do they tear the sun from the sky. With atmospheric depth do they immerse the world in unbreakable night. Blood Countess wield this triumvirate of distorted malice, arterial melody, and mood-rich darkness like serrated blades. They’re skilled with these weapons, carving a red path through the black metal underground with envious ease.
In essence, Imperatrix Sanguinis is a raw, authentic, potent exemplar of classic black metal supremacy. It’s satisfying and enjoyable in that special way that only this kind of atavistic blackened nastiness can be. Blood Countess have crafted an album that does exactly what you would want a record of this sort to do, and it does it extremely well.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 