Before even listening to the album, the most obvious difference is the length of the tracks. In the last release, "Bizarre Troll Technology", the songs averaged over 8 minutes long with two scratching on the door of ten minutes. Well, this time around, the guys in Trollheim's Grott have kept the average time of each song around five minutes while, and trust me on this, taking away absolutely nothing from the quality. This album is a definite opus for a band making certain marks in the genre of Black Metal and all music with such extreme nature. From Finland, Trollheim's Grott's latest release on Woodcut Records puts all competition to a dark, cold death!
While the last album, "Bizarre", started showing the band's distancing from the general sound of a Symphonic Black Metal band, "Bloodsoaked" is the next step in the evolution, completely ridding the keyboards of their symphonic occupation. This album is a huge step away from the previous Trollheim sound altogether while keeping this listener even more interested in an outfit of their caliber. To stay on the keyboards for a moment, the new man behind the keys is Ruho. He is listed as being in charge of "SadistikSynthetiks and DeathtriXXX" and oh man does that reach close to summing up the magic this guy creates. The more modern, industrial/ techno influenced sound now perfected by the band is very much enhanced due to Ruho's work. The band shows similarities to …And Oceans' futuristic "techno" inspired Black Metal while not getting nearly as the Kovenant's complete Industrial sound. In fact, the last song on the album entitled "Addicted to Lethal Injections" is purely a techno song with certain Trollheim's Grott signature all over it. The work with keyboards has strayed away from the usual "Angelic- like" or classical sound of other bands like "Ill- natured" era Old Man's Child and adds this new element of sound effects. This is absolutely the future of the sound. Bands like Trollheim's Grott are special for the sole reason of this evolution of creativity. What could become mundane in the general sound of the Symphonic bands out there is destroyed in the idea that bands like this can create a new twist in it.
Now, another obvious change in this band's sound is the increased intensity. Once again, the move from the symphonic style is also accompanied by a pounding, extreme musical approach. Much like when Gehenna jumped from somewhat aggression Symph. Black Metal to a hard- hitting, aggressive Death Metal band, Trollheim's has not hit that move to a different genre like them but most certainly acquired the parallel aggression. I like the new style of Trollheim's Grott. This album can also be described as a darker approach to the sound which Thyrane mastered in the grand "Spirit of Rebellion" album. There is pure power put behind the songs which, to me, is more necessary with a message of Syndicate murder and anti- human manifestos. The sound of "Bloodsoaked and Ill- fated" is as full of hatred and murderous rage as the message of the songs. Many bands tend to abandon their previously epic, orchestral sound for a harder, catchier tune but, they occasionally lose the firm grasp on the portrayal of their music with dumbed- down speed and energy. This is not the case with this album. In five minutes opuses, TG have done so much for their sound; this is a tighter and more original band than ever before and the aural assault is purely genocide. T Nattefrost (not to be confused with R. Nattefrost of Carpathian Forest) is still behind the drum kit for the band only now using the alias Troll N. (maybe he recognized the similarity with the CF frontman's name and decided to abbreviate). Troll N. destroys his kit on this album with absolutely crushing drum- work. I must say that just because this is a more aggressive release does not mean a weaker quality of the talent. There is no mistaking; Troll N. plays his hands and feet off. The guitar work from Spellgoth and Trist cannot go without mentioning since their playing is very good and powerfully executed. But, even though the shredding of these two is very apocalyptic, the drums make the more obvious statement in this being a harder band than ever.
As a lyricist, it is easier for me to critique a band's words and messages rather than the instrumental attack. There is no reason to judge a band's lyrics as more important than the music itself. After all, the rest of the musicians are obviously playing a more prevalent role in the creation of the songs. But, it is always important for me to have really good lyrics to seal the deal in making a musical creation into a masterpiece. Spellgoth, the band's vocalist/ guitarist, handled all the lyrics (or propaganda as the band likes to call it) for this album just like on the previous release. And, he is getting very masterful in his craft. The lyrics on this album are extreme and to the point. Trollheim's Grott despises the human race and they are the "death syndicate" here to destroy and bring genocide to the masses. Much like the submachine gun in his hand in the CD's linear notes, Spellgoth's lyrics are powerful and severe, making a mark on this listener as I read along and listen. The words speak of observing human life, experimenting on it, and especially, ridding them from the world most obvious in lyrics like "…death to humans and all their delusions, Now the blood stream is growing and growing…" in the song "Dehumanize" and more sadistically in "Exact Answers and Syndicate Solutions" where Spellgoth describes his desire to use the gun in his hand, "We are in front of you. Barrels of our guns pointed at your head. Click, click, boom, you're dead…Humans I have known have perished in flames..." This is very interesting lyrical content. Of course it may be now becoming redundant to hear another band that is anti- human and wants to do something about these sentiments. But, Trollheim's lyrics are smarter, different, and very odd as well. Curst and I even discussed the obsession with mushrooms and fungus in general but that takes a backstage to the genocidal moral of the "Bloodsoaked" story.
There is no way to pick a standout song or two on the album; they are all simply perfect. A favorite of mine, at this moment, is "Operation: Lick the Fungus" which is speedy and very much a reason why we scratch our heads at the fungus obsession (even the logo on the CD has a big mushroom). But it is a great song nonetheless so what does this all matter. Also, "Little Shop of Scalpels" is a song I cannot stop listening to. Some of the most interesting guitar riffs throughout the whole album are right here in this song as well as an obsession with giving pain described well in the lyrics. In retrospect, the band is more "in your face" with their sound, I failed to mention it earlier but the epic, almost- Borknagar style clean vocals have been abandoned, and the futuristic techno/ industrial sound spells the new era in Trollheim's Grott. This is a MUST HAVE album! I can only say it so much; this band is fierce and stands above all with this album's creativity and brutality. Yet again, Cleric Curst's suggestions have paid off. Like many times before, I blindly ordered a band's work and I have been very much pleased with the choice to do so. Fans of bands like…And Oceans, Diabolicum, and Thyrane would be more than pleased.  The name of their last album "Bizarre Troll Technology" may be more suitable to the title of this newest release (as pointed out by Cleric Curst and very much agreed with by myself), but otherwise, there is nothing else to foolishly nit- pick about this album. Buy it and enjoy the ride!
Reviewed by Lord Vidar