Band:	Blot Mine
Album:	Ashcloud
Style:	Black metal
Release date:	2005
A review by:	Malcolm

01. Dead Centre
02. Evil Intent
03. Right Of Way
04. Luminous Bodies
05. Ashcloud
06. Gynocide
07. Where Space And Time Collide
08. Bolted Down (And Dying)

You that followed Metal Storm (and me) for a while know as well as I do that Black Metal isn't my cup of tea, and I'm doing everything I can to avoid it, because I would probably just trash is because of my lack of interest. But here and then there comes a few Black Metal bands that even I, a regular melodic jerk, can enjoy, and Blot Mine is just such band, mostly because of their serious angle to the lyrics, which I advocate.

But it's not only the serious angle towards the lyrics that makes this album good, Blot Mine has also found a way to bake in some melodies in their Black Metal and still sound like Black Metal band and not a strange MeloDeath band.
"Ashcloud" is their second album, and even if it was recorded a few years ago I can't say that it has aged, the music is really timeless.

Formed out of the ashes of bands like Setherial, Sorhin and Midvinter, Blot Mine released their debut "Porphyrogenesis" in 1999, and it was produced by no other than Andy LaRoque (King Diamond) in studio Los Angered.
And "Ashcloud" should be ashamed either, because the man behind this record is no less than Tommy Tägtgren and it's recorded in Abyss Studios.
As you might see, Blot Mine is really looking for quality when it comes to production and recording, and that it audible on this album, the production is fantastic.

You might wonder what I meant before when I said that I was fond of their serious angle of the lyrics, and you might wonder what the lyrics are about?
Well, you might just find it ridiculous, but that's up to you, Blot Mine is dealing much with the search of terrestrial intelligence and most of their lyrics are about that.
Serious might some think, ridiculous says others, but I don't think it's the theme in general, it's the way the lyrics are written and preformed.

Anyway, let's get back to the music again before I end the review.
As I said, I think Blot Mine has found a way to do quite melodic Black Metal and still sound Black Metal, and if you just listen to the third song, "Right of Way", you'll hear what I mean. The song starts with a single guitar playing a few chords over and over again then the song starts with the same guitars and bass, drums and screamy Black Metal vocals in a quite slow way, great song.

So if you ever heard bands like Setherial, Sorhin, Midvinter or maybe Blot Mine's debut, I'm pretty sure that this album will interest you. But if you never heard of them and are into Black Metal and what some serious lyrics, you should really check Blot Mine out.

Check Out: "Right of Way" & "Dead Centre".