| Blood Ceremony | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Background information | ||
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
| Genres | Hard Rock, Psychedelic Folk, Progressive Rock, Doom Rock, Occult Rock | |
| Years active | 2006 - Present | |
| Labels | Rise Above Records, Metal Blade Records | |
| Website | ||
| Current members | Alia O'Brien Sean Kennedy Lucas Gadke Michael Carrillo | |
| Past members | Chris Landon Jeremy Finkelstein Andrew Haust | |
| Band Logo | ||
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Blood Ceremony are an occult rock band based out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Blood Ceremony's style has been described as "flute-tinged witch rock" and their lyrics are filled with black magic imagery and references to classic horror films.[1] Their music has been also characterized as hard rock, psychedelic folk, progressive rock and doom metal.[2] The band has also been cited as "occult rock"[3] In a 2011 interview on Finland's NukeTV, singer/flutist Alia O'Brien called their style "heavy rock" and claimed that their distinct sound is the result of each band member having different musical influences. She cited late 1960s and early 1970s progressive rock as crucial to her inspiration, called Jethro Tull her "very first, favorite band", and also listed Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep, Osanna, Pentagram, Witchfinder General, Electric Wizard and Pagan Altar as having a major impact. Guitarist and songwriter Kennedy called Blood Ceremony a "folkier Sabbath", and cited "heavier Black Sabbath", 1980s doom metal and British folk artists such as Pentangle and Fairport Convention as influential.
The band is fronted by singer/flutist/organist Alia O'Brien, whose flute solos are reminiscent of Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson.[4] Torontoist has called Blood Ceremony "Toronto's most original band".[5] Since forming in 2006 Blood Ceremony have released four studio albums and two non-album singles, all of which through the English label Rise Above Records.
The band's name derives from the 1973 Spanish film Ceremonia sangrienta ("Blood Ceremony").
History[]
Blood Ceremony would be founded in 2006 by Alia O'Brien and Sean Kennedy. Little is known of their formative years except that the band would record their debut album circa June 2007 at Halla Recording Studio. Searching for a label, Blood Ceremony would be signed by Rise Above Records (And Metal Blade Records for North American distribution.), whom would release the eponymous Blood Ceremony on 2 September 2008 to generally positive reviews.[6][7]
In 2009 Blood Ceremony would embark on their first ever tour of Europe as direct support for Electric Wizard. Through 2010 the band would play sporadic gigs supporting the likes of Sons of Otis and Pagan Altar as work would begin on a follow-up album.[8] Blood Ceremony would record the album in Chicago with producer Sanford Parker. Living With The Ancients would see release on 1 March 2011[9] to further critical acclaim from several publications such as Exclaim!,[10] Heavy Planet[11] and The Quietus[12] among several others.
Blood Ceremony would tour throughout Europe twice that year including gigs supporting the Swedish rock band Ghost and appearances at Roadburn Festival and Hammer of Doom Festival, closing out with a gig supporting Danava and Thrones.[13] The next year saw Blood Ceremony on their first United States tour supporting Ghost. Quickly working on a third album, The Eldritch Dark would see release on 28 May 2013 to further critical acclaim, Pitchfork in particular awarding a 7.6/10 and praising the album by stating that "The third album from the Canadian collective is their strongest yet, and clear proof that while yes, everything old is new again, there are a scant few armed with the passion and power to craft something as worth revisiting.".[14] Blood Ceremony would extensively tour North America in 2013 supporting Kylesa and participate in Rise Above Records' 25th Anniversary showcase in England.[15]
Along with touring Europe in further support of The Eldritch Dark (Including appearances at Temples Festival and Freak Valley Festival) a non-album single in Let It Come Down would see release on 28 April 2014, including a cover of "Loving You" by Iron Claw. Barring two gigs in Canada supporting Electric Wizard, Blood Ceremony would take time off from touring in 2015 to begin work on a fourth studio album.[16]
Recording with Liam Watson at Toerag Studios in London, Lords of Misrule would see release on 25 March 2016 to praise from the likes of New Noise Magazine,[17] The Fire Note,[18] Cryptic Rock[19] and Echoes and Dust just to name a few.[20] Blood Ceremony would tour Europe that Spring to support the album, including a return to Roadburn and a marquee appearance at Desertfest London. The band would remain actively touring and performing at festivals such as Hellfest and Psycho Las Vegas.
A new 7" single in Lolly Willows would see release on 1 March 2019, featuring a cover of The Who's "Heaven & Hell" as a b-side and hinting at a fifth album in the works.
Discography[]
Blood Ceremony - Goodbye Gemini (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
Studio Albums[]
- Blood Ceremony (2008, Rise Above Records)
- Living With The Ancients (2011, Rise Above Records)
- The Eldritch Dark (2013, Rise Above Records)
- Lord Of Misrule (2016, Rise Above Records)
Other Releases[]
- Let It Come Down / Loving You (Single) (2014, Rise Above Records)
- Lolly Willows / Heaven & Hell (Single) (2019, Rise Above Records)
Members[]
Current Members[]
- Alia O'Brien - Flute, Organ, Vocals (2006 - Present)
- Sean Kennedy - Guitars (2006 - Present)
- Lucas Gadke - Bass (2010 - Present)
- Michael Carrillo - Drums (2012 - Present)
Former Members[]
- Chris Landon - Bass (2006 - 2009)
- Jeremy Finkelstein - Drums (2006 - 2007)
- Andrew Haust - Drums (2007 - 2012)
List of Known Tours[]
- 2009 European Tour (With Electric Wizard) (2009)[21][22]
- 2011 Spring European Tour (With Ghost) (2011)[23]
- Black Magic Rites (2011)[24]
- 13 Dates of Doom (With Ghost, Ancient VVisdom) (2012)[25][26]
- Ultraviolet Summer 2013 Tour (With Kylesa, Lazer/Wulf, White Hills) (2013)[27]
- The Eldritch Dark European Tour (With Spiders) (2014)[28]
- 2014 North American Mini-Tour (With Pentagram, Kings Destroy) (2014)[29]
- Time To Die North American Tour (Two dates supporting Electric Wizard, Satan's Satyrs) (2015)[30]
- Lord of Misrule European Tour (With Beastmaker) (2016)[31]
- 2017 European Tour (With Sir Admiral Cloudsley Shovell) (2017)[32]
- 2019 European Tour (With Uncle Acid and the deadbeats) (2019)[33]
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ Rise Above Records Official via Wayback Machine
- ↑ Torontoist
- ↑ The Great Southern Brainfart7 Occult Rock Bands That Are Way Fucking Better Than Ghost, accessed 20 October 2020
- ↑ Hard Rock Haven via Wayback Machine
- ↑ Torontoist
- ↑ Blabbermouth
- ↑ Sputnik Music
- ↑ Last.fm
- ↑ Metal Blade Records
- ↑ Exclaim!
- ↑ Heavy Planet
- ↑ The Quietus
- ↑ Last.fm
- ↑ Pitchfork
- ↑ Last.fm
- ↑ Last.fm
- ↑ New Noise Magazine
- ↑ The Fire Note
- ↑ Cryptic Rock
- ↑ Echoes and Dust
- ↑ Last.fm
- ↑ Blood Ceremony Myspace
- ↑ Last.fm
- ↑ Last.fm
- ↑ Blood Ceremony Myspace
- ↑ Last.fm
- ↑ Last.fm
- ↑ Last.fm
- ↑ Last.fm
- ↑ Last.fm
- ↑ Last.fm
- ↑ Last.fm
- ↑ Last.fm