Next on the Master's Chopping Block: the Melodeath Assault of Bloodhunter

This time around, I will be taking a look at one of the most criminally underrated bands in metal today, melodic death metal masters, Bloodhunter!

Bloodhunter are a melodeath band hailing from Galicia, Spain. They have an awesome sound with shredding and soaring twin guitars. This adds to the a full blown attack clearly influenced by melodeath gods like At The Gates and Carcass, as well taking in the power of giants like Slayer, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Death, and more. Their pounding power makes them one of the most exciting bands in extreme metal, one that only gets better with each release.

I got introduced to their music thanks to originally being a huge fan of all female Brazilian death/ thrash metal outfit, Nervosa. While, I was already fan of these heavy thrashers, but to me their finest work came with 2021's Perpetual Chaos. And, this was in large to their then newly hired signer the incredible Diva Satanica. Unfortunately she only lasted that one album with them and was soon returning to her previous band, this one, Bloodhunter. As soon as I heard their music, I became a huge fan. Their mix of melody and heaviness makes them my exact cup of musical blood. Why they aren't bigger, I honestly don't know.

They were formed by guitarist Dani Arcos in 2008 and have had several line-up changes over time. But, the band really found themselves when they hired Diva Satanica as their vocalist in 2012. Her incredible voice really gave them their signature sound and feel. In 2014, they released their self-titled debut. 2017, saw them put out their second release, The End of Faith. I got into them with their third release 2022's Knowledge Was the Price. The melodic and soaring, yet heavy music was perfect listening material to my ears, with songs like the title track, "A Twist of Fate to Come", "Medea's Guidance", and "Spreading Your Disease" quickly becoming favorites of mine.

This year saw them put out their fourth full length release with the killer Sons of the Abandoned. It is their finest work to date. Featuring piercing and ripping guitars with driving and thundering power, the album is both beautiful and absolutely fucking rips. Diva Satanica proves, yet again, that she is truly one of the genre's very best. Songs like "The Devil's Own", "The Outspoken", "Threshold of Hell", "The Path that Never Ends" (which features a duet with another lady that is among the finest voices in metal today Burning Witches' Laura Guldemond), an absolutely ripping cover of the classic track by Canadian thrash gods Annihilator "Human Insecticide" (which is also the album closer) are among the best extreme metal songs you have not heard this year. In fact, I would go as far as saying that this album is in my top five or so of the year son far. It's truly fucking killer!

If I can even get one new fan amongst you guys then I have truly done my job. If you like metal acts like At The Gates, Carcass, Symbolic era Death, Nervosa (obviously), and Crypta, then you will love this band, as I do. Diva Satanica's incredible vocals mixing in with the amazing musicianship (that twin guitar attack!) make for a classic, perfect fit. One that is like a leather glove, a studded one, of course.

Satanica also seems to be coolest and nicest person around. I love her social media posts., especially cuz she is a fellow dog owner/ lover. I mean there is no way faster to my heart than being a dog person and playing/ loving heavy metal music!

Time to take a dive into their kick ass music!

The first single off of the current album Sons of the Abounded, this fucker rocks so goddamn hard!

What a killer cover of an Annihilator classic!

Are a fellow fan of this amazing Spanish band? Or is this your first time hearing them? If so what are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments section below!