Mad Grandiose Bloodfiends

Last updated
Mad Grandiose Bloodfiends
Ancient-madgrandiosebloodfiends.jpg
Studio album by
Released1997
Genre Melodic black metal
Gothic metal
Length1:07:04
Label Metal Blade Records
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
SputnikmusicStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Mad Grandiose Bloodfiends is Ancient's third full-length release. The album was recorded, mixed and mastered in Cue Recording Studios, Falls Church, Virginia during September 1997.

Contents

This album hearkens a rather drastic change of musical focus for the group, into a more melodic/gothic-oriented approach with an influx of clean/female singing, slower tempos and majestic stringed instruments, though much of the group's original black metal roots are still present. Song/lyrical topics also moved in a new direction, particularly with topics about vampires/vampirism. This has led to a strong backlash from fans and critics.

Track listing

Music as indicated. All lyrics by Kaiaphas except 6 - 9 by Thorne and 14 by King Diamond.

  1. "Malkavian Twilight" - 00:39 (Aphazel)
  2. "A Mad Blood Scenario" - 04:23 (Aphazel, Kaiaphas)
  3. "The Draining" - 05:26 (Aphazel)
  4. "Um Sonho Psycodelico" - 04:01 (Aphazel)
  5. "Sleeping Princess of the Arges" - 06:32 (Jesus Christ!)
  6. "Her Northern Majesty" - 05:51 (Aphazel)
  7. "Blackeyes" - 07:21 (Jesus Christ!)
  8. "The Emerald Tablet" - 07:14 (Aphazel)
  9. "Willothewisp" - 07:22 (Jesus Christ!)
  10. "Neptune" - 02:37 (Aphazel)
  11. "5" - 04:10 (Kaiaphas)
  12. "Hecate, My Love and Lust" - 06:04 (Aphazel)
  13. "Vampirize Natasha" - 02:34 (Aphazel, Jesus Christ!, & Kaiaphas)
  14. "Black Funeral" (Mercyful Fate cover) - 02:50 (Hank Shermann)

Kaiaphas wrote lyrics for the song Sleeping Princess of the Arges in 1994 for his then-band Grand Belial's Key. GBK's version has a different music and can be found on the demo Triumph of the Hordes.

Credits

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ancient (band)</span> Norwegian black metal band

Ancient is a Norwegian black metal band from Bergen, formed in 1992. The band released six full-length albums released by Metal Blade Records to date and a variety of mini-albums, EPs and special releases. Ancient used to have the classic raw black metal sound, similar to Darkthrone's works. Beginning with The Cainian Chronicle, they moved towards a more Nordic/atmospheric black metal sound, akin to Emperor and a cleaner production. After a period of turmoil concerning their line-up, they went on to add gothic-style instruments such as violins, a female vocalist, and synthesizers to their music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nokturnal Mortum</span> Ukrainian folk-black metal band

Nokturnal Mortum are a Ukrainian black metal band from Kharkiv. They were one of the founders of the Ukrainian black metal scene and pioneers in the early National Socialist black metal ("NSBM") scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Chariot (band)</span> American hardcore band

The Chariot was an American hardcore punk band from Douglasville, Georgia, that existed from 2003 to 2013. The last lineup consisted of drummer David Kennedy, vocalist and bandleader Josh Scogin, and guitarists Brandon Henderson and Stephen Harrison. The band experienced frequent lineup changes since its inception, with Scogin being the only original member. The band played an abrasive style of metalcore that did not adhere to typical stylings popular among their contemporaries such as melodic/abrasive dynamics and harmonic vocals. They built a reputation around their powerful live performances, with Scogin's lyrics covering topics like materialism, personal struggle, current events, politics, and Christian themes.

Funeral are a Norwegian funeral doom band formed in 1991 by Thomas Angell and Anders Eek; soon afterward, Einar Frederiksen joined as bassist and songwriter and Christian Loos joined as guitarist. They are known as one of the pioneers of the funeral doom genre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theatres des Vampires</span> Italian gothic metal band

Theatres des Vampires is an Italian gothic metal band, mostly noted for the predominant theme of vampirism within their lyrics. The band's early material was credited as melodic black metal or symphonic black metal, but the group completely abandoned all black metal influence by the mid-2000s. Theatres des Vampires have released eleven full-length albums.

<i>Bright Red</i> 1994 studio album by Laurie Anderson

Bright Red is the fifth studio album by American avant-garde musician Laurie Anderson, released by Warner Bros. in 1994.

Necromantia was a Greek black metal band that was founded in 1989 in Athens. Alongside Rotting Christ and Varathron, they are considered to be pioneers in establishing the Greek black metal scene in the early 1990s. The band is notable for the complete lack of rhythm guitar in their music, which is substituted by an eight-string bass guitar. Another notable feature is the band's frequent use of musical instruments not usually associated with black metal, such as the saxophone and flute.

<i>The Forsaken</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Antestor

The Forsaken is the third studio album by the Christian black metal band Antestor, released in 2005 on Endtime Productions. The album features guest appearances of the established metal musicians Jan Axel Blomberg (Hellhammer) and Ann-Mari Edvardsen.

<i>Family</i> (LeAnn Rimes album) 2007 studio album by LeAnn Rimes

Family is the eleventh studio album by American singer LeAnn Rimes, released October 9, 2007, by Curb Records in the United States. It was produced primarily by musician and record producer Dann Huff, with additional production by Tony Brown and guest vocalist Reba McEntire.

<i>Christ 0</i> 2006 studio album by Vanden Plas

Christ 0 is the fifth full-length studio album by the German progressive metal band Vanden Plas, released on March 31, 2006 by InsideOut Music. This concept album interprets the Alexandre Dumas 1844 novel The Count of Monte Cristo, exploring the story of a man imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit and following his chain of vengeful murders through the eyes of "X," an Interpol detective assigned to the case. Throughout the course of the album, both characters come to terms with their goals; X realizes just how similar the nature of his work is to Christ-0's, while 0 repents for the sins of his vengeance and commits suicide. The lyrics make several contemporary references, alluding to modern movies and organizations (Interpol).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vampire Weekend</span> American indie rock band

Vampire Weekend is an American rock band formed in New York City in 2006 and currently signed to Columbia Records. The band was formed by lead vocalist and guitarist Ezra Koenig, multi-instrumentalist Rostam Batmanglij, drummer Chris Tomson, and bassist Chris Baio. Batmanglij departed the group in early 2016 but has continued to occasionally contribute to subsequent albums as a songwriter, producer, and musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bye Bye Beautiful</span> 2008 single by Nightwish

"Bye Bye Beautiful" is the second track on Nightwish's Dark Passion Play album. The song was confirmed to be the second single from Dark Passion Play by Tuomas Holopainen in an interview, but it was changed to the third single after the announcement of "Erämaan viimeinen"'s release as the second.

<i>The Cainian Chronicle</i> 1996 studio album by Ancient

The Cainian Chronicle is Ancient’s second full length release. On another note, the album’s length is 66 minutes and six seconds long.

Naer Mataron is a Greek black metal band which draws on imagery from Greek mythology. The band was formed in 1994 after splitting from Nar Mataron, and was soon signed to Black Lotus Records, with whom they released four studio albums. Moving through numerous line-ups, the band has seen influences from other genres of music, including a traditional black metal release and songs featuring elements of melodic black metal and industrial music.

<i>Apagorevmeno</i> 2008 studio album by Anna Vissi

Apagorevmeno is Greek singer Anna Vissi's 25th studio album, released in Greece and Cyprus on December 9, 2008, by Sony BMG Greece. It is Vissi's first studio album since 2005 and the first since her 1980 “Nai” album to not include any songs or input by Nikos Karvelas. The album was mostly produced with the Maple Jam Music Group in Los Angeles, United States, and by its head producer Greg Ladanyi.

<i>The Day I Went Mad</i> 1999 studio album by Graham Bonnet

The Day I Went Mad is the sixth solo album by English rock singer Graham Bonnet, originally released in 1999. Much like his previous solo efforts, Bonnet enlisted a host of guest musicians for the recording, including former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash, Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell and Vanilla Fudge bassist Tim Bogert. The album cover was illustrated by guitarist Mario Parga, who plays on several tracks.

<i>Proxima Centauri</i> (album) 2001 studio album by Ancient

Proxima Centauri is the fifth album by Norwegian black metal band Ancient.

<i>More Beautiful You</i> 2009 studio album by Jonny Diaz

More Beautiful You is the first major label studio album by contemporary Christian musician Jonny Diaz. This was his first release with INO Records, released on June 2, 2009.

<i>Perierges Meres</i> 2013 studio album by Katy Garbi

Perierges Meres is the nineteenth studio album by popular Greek artist, Katy Garbi. It was released on 10 December 2013 by Front Seat Records, a Minos EMI label, and received platinum certification, selling over 20,000 units. The album marked the singer's comeback in the night life of Athens and her return to laiko music style. On 26 January 2014, the album was released as a covermount along with the newspaper Proto Thema. In March 2014 it was announced that the album has reached gold status. In November 2014, the album was re-released as a covermount that it has reached platinum status.

<i>Glory, Glory, to the World</i> 2021 EP by Lovebites

Glory, Glory, to the World is the third EP by Japanese power metal band Lovebites. The EP was released in Japan on March 10, 2021, by Victor Entertainment. It was released in the United Kingdom by JPU Records on May 28, 2021. It debuted at number 10 on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart, and number 11 on the Oricon Albums Chart. It is the final studio release to feature bassist and founding member Miho, who left the band five months later.

References

  1. "Review: Ancient - Mad Grandiose Bloodfiends". Sputnikmusic.