"Blood Ceremony" CD by Blood Ceremony

by Matthias Mader (22.10.2008) I keep on sayin’ it: Lee Dorian (boss of Rise Above Records and Cathedral singer) has a knack for newcomers - a priceless asset when you are a label manager. And he’s not just looking around in his own backyard - Blood Ceremony (real catchy song!) hail from far Toronto. Meaning that this is the label’s second great release within a very short span of time. Blood Ceremony dedicate themselves to the occult Rock style which was en vogue in the Sixties / Seventies. The female vocals provide songs like "Master of confusion", "Hop toad" and "Return to forever" (all of them somehow enchanted by the sound of a panpipe) with almost hypnotic qualities. And the Canadians actually have a smasher up their sleeves with "Hymn to pan". Apart from the Frenchies of Northwind, I haven’t been that convinced by a band within the last decade, but Blood Ceremony are indeed in the ranks of such venerable bands as Coven, Atomic Rooster, Black Widow and very early Black Sabbath.