To be honest, I started listening to Bloodred’s new album, “Colours of Pain”, without really knowing what to expect, since I hadn’t heard their previous releases. The cover artwork, equally enigmatic, depicts a woman confined and overwhelmed by negative thoughts and problems, perhaps hinting at themes of oppression and human suffering. In any case, I hit play to see what was in store. The opening pleasantly surprised me. “Ashes” kicks off with a solid blast beat and a melodic black metal riff, and right there I felt that not much could go wrong with this record. And indeed, that turns out to be the case. On “Colours of Pain”, Bloodred deliver very strong blackened death metal — a genre I personally love as a big fan of Behemoth. The alternation between blast beats and mid-tempo grooves, combined with thoughtful songwriting and well-structured compositions, creates a compelling blend of aggression and cinematic atmosphere. There’s also a strong emotional charge throughout, with moments that explore more melodic and darker paths. All of this makes the album accessible both to fans of extreme metal and to listeners who lean toward more melodic sounds. The guitars are well executed, both in the rhythm and melodic sections, balancing heaviness with clarity. The vocals shift between growls and fry vocals, though if I’m being honest, I prefer his growls. The rhythm section performs at a very solid level, with the bass acting as a steady backbone while the drums hammer relentlessly. The production is strong and balanced, allowing every element of the album to be clearly heard. Perhaps in a few moments — especially in the double bass parts — the drums sound a bit more polished than I would personally prefer, but that’s purely a matter of taste. The tracks that stood out to me were “Ashes,” “A New Dark Age,” “The Death Machine,” and “Resist.” I genuinely believe that fans of the genre will enjoy this release. Well done, Bloodred.
♦ 8/10
Christos Kosmidis
