These guys at Season of Mist sure know how to put an album together. On top of the 8 pages of artwork on the fold-out soft cover you get a 12-page booklet containing only 2 pages of lyrics, the rest being artwork, band photos, and "The Tale of Tower Bloodthorn." Could it be that black metal is going professional? Either way, it makes you feel like you got your money's worth, even if the music's not totally to your liking.

Don't get me wrong, Bloodthorn execute their brand of music (doom-paced black metal) very well, and I do frequently listen to it. But most of the time I crave a bit of speed, something to get the adrenaline pumping. Bloodthorn is more suited for those who look for the hypnotic qualities of a Burzum, Avrigus or Theatre of Tragedy. The hypnosis is at its best on the opening to "Breeding the Evil Inside" with its very simple piano melody that evokes images of a deranged mind quietly contemplating its attack... breeding the evil inside, as stated! Bloodthorn do indeed stick to their themes nicely - "March to War" has a more pompous, military tone, and "...with a Bloodstained Axe" is an insane, Satanic frenzy.

My main criticism of the album, apart from the lack of tempo change, is the female vocals (the male growls and screams are very nice considering the slow pace he must perform them at). I'm all for the idea of female vocals, but this gal can't sing very well. She's OK in the louder, more majestic parts where she can let it rip, protected by the guitar distortion. But there are other parts where it's just a soprano solo with piano accompaniment, and these sound like shit. Still, one must remember that Bloodthorn were a new band at the time and didn't exactly have the budget to go after Dame Tiri Kirwana (sp?) or Dawn Upshaw or even one of Cradle of Filth's vampire whores! This album is a promising debut. I hope you'll take the time to check it out.