The Metal Crypt on Facebook  The Metal Crypt's YouTube Channel
Review: Blaze Bayley - Blood & Belief
Blaze Bayley
www.blazebayley.net
Blood & Belief

Label: SPV
Year released: 2004
Duration: 51:46
Tracks: 10
Genre: Heavy Metal

Rating:
4.5/5


Review online: June 16, 2004
Reviewed by: 4th Horseman
Readers' Rating
How do you rate this release?

Rated 4.24/5 (84.71%) (17 Votes)
Review

Dare I make a comparison with Iron Maiden? Yes I dare. And by making this comparison, I also would like to point out that with this release, Blaze Bayley has set a name for himself as more than simply 'that guy who sang with Maiden for a little while'. "Blood And Belief" is the third full length from Blaze and by far their greatest work. Brilliant album!

The 4.5/5 rating is simply a formality that I must fulfill because there is absolutely nothing original about this disc. Nothing. This is heavy metal along the lines of NWOBHM and that is it. But if that means little to you and are not bored of the sound I am talking about (Saxon, Maiden) then there is no reason why this album will not appeal to you.

I do not subscribe to the theory that a chorus 'makes or breaks' a song. And frankly, no true metal head should. But the choruses on "Blood And Belief" are truly the highlight of the album. They are just that damn good; extremely melodic and very enjoyable once you get in to it. At a lyrical level, this is a highly personal record reflecting on Blaze Bayley's experiences with his drug/alcohol recovery and his take on 'the meaning of it all'. The music, as usual is very riff-driven but at the same time, the vocals are quite dominating and it is the quality of the mix that makes this a remarkable record.

Some songs take a little bit of time in sinking in. I don't know why; they are all great tracks with awesome melody lines and flawless musical execution. I will not call this an album that requires time or anything like that; because it clearly isn't. Most songs are catchy enough to reel you in at first listen. But at the same time, the true gems, such as the title track require a few spins to start appreciating them. Killer cuts include "Life and Death", "Alive", "Soundtrack Of My Life" and "Ten Seconds". "Life And Death" is probably the greatest track on the disc, somewhat balladesque with breathtaking leads and a chorus to kill for. What an awesome song! I walked in late to work just because I wanted to hear it one more time before I went in! It was well worth the little frown I received from my supervisor. hehe!

Anyway….Highly recommended for NWOBHM/Heavy metal fans!

Additional Information

Released under the name "Blaze".

More about Blaze Bayley...
Review: Infinite Entanglement (reviewed by Bruno Medeiros)
Review: Promise and Terror (reviewed by Michel Renaud)
Review: Silicon Messiah (reviewed by Michel Renaud)
Review: Tenth Dimension (reviewed by Michel Renaud)
Review: The Man Who Would Not Die (reviewed by Hermer Arroyo)
Review: War Within Me (reviewed by Michel Renaud)
Interview with vocalist Blaze Bayley on June 30, 2018 (Interviewed by Luxi Lahtinen)
Click below for more reviews
Latest 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Various Books/Zines 



The Metal Crypt - Crushing Posers Since 1999
Copyright  © 1999-2024, Michel Renaud / The Metal Crypt.  All Rights Reserved.