Bloodred Hourglass continues on its way with a fifth album.
Created in 2005 in Finland, the band composed of Jarkko Koukonen (vocals), Lauri Silvonen (guitar, Wolfheart, Casket), Jarkko Hyvönen (drums), Jose Moilanen (bass) Joni Lahdenkauppi (guitar, MyGrain, Thyrane) hires Eero Silvonen (guitar, Casket, ex-Gloria Morti), a third guitarist, to compose Your Highness.
We begin with Leaves, a solid and melodic track that welcomes those raw howlings and this burning rage. The rhythmic calms down while being heavier, then airy leads drive us to Drag Me the Rain, an extremely hooking composition. Leads are already heady, and the addition of vocals makes the song extremely addictive, above all on those choruses we already want to sing while breaking our neck, while Nightmares Are Dreams Too melts blackness and catchy modern tones. Melancholy is also part of the song, then Leave out All the Rest places quite raw and jerky tones to accompany an ice-cold rage, but also some very fast breaks. The track is solid and catchy, then Veritas unveils some energy, partly thanks to the fast tempo. Clean vocals also come to the song, which is sometimes martial while leads become piercing, then Tell Me About Yesterday Tomorrow unveils a weighing and dark melancholy. The song mainly uses clean sonorities as well as whispers at the beginning, to create a seizing contrast with the raging saturation, then Change of Heart reconnects with pure energy. Old School influences are recognizable on this raw song, while Gone for Now invokes again quietness for an introduction that will be trampled by a rage explosion. It however uses airy and soaring tones to create a contrast with raging parts and heady leads, while Kings & Queens will hook us with its solid groove. Some modern tones join the melting, then My Prime of Kneel is majestic but also rawer, more jerky or dissonant parts. The album closes with Until We Meet Again, a long melancholic song that allows the band to develop soft tones before striking back with a violent fastness. The two universes clash, allowing place to clean vocals, howlings and above all this mastered instrumental from beginning to end that leads to a mesmerizing outro.
Do you think Bloodred Hourglass is just another Melodic Death band? You’re wrong. The style’s roots are obviously here, just like this finnish touch, but the sound on Your Highness gathers way more than this.
95/100