BLOODY NIGHTMARE formed in 2013, in Bogotá, Columbia. In the last decade they have released a series of singles and demos, splits, and a full length album. In 2022 they recorded their sophomore album “PILLARS OF CHAOS” and early 20223 signed a deal with FIGHTER RECORDS to release the album on all formats, out in May 2023.

Until now, this band were unknown to myself. After reading their biography where they proudly state they are influenced by 80s speed metal, I couldn’t wait to give it a listen. Speed metal and thrash at large, in my opinion, is metal in its purest form and something that I hold very close to my heart. I’m pleased to say I enjoyed this release for the most part, but what’s offered here is far more than just another standard speed metal record which will polarise listeners.

After setting the tone with a short synth driven instrumental intro, the band waste no time at all getting down to business. “Nightrider” races through at a pace expected by a speed metal band. The vocals are wild and free, and the guitars are showcased nicely here backed by the relentless attack of the drums which never let up. This is the track the band and label have decided to use as the single release, which is a smart move considering the straight up nature of this track. However I do not feel this is indicative of the album, which is in no way a bad thing.

The rest of the album provides a fresh take on the speed metal subgenre. The tried and tested formula most bands follow is all well and good – I love a good heads down no nonsense banger – but BLOODY NIGHTMARE apply an ambitious approach to every song on this album. Take “Poisonous (Breath The End)” as an example. The first few minutes are straight forward enough, then it switches to a clean section with an alternative vocal style, reminiscent of those early 80s NWOBHM records. The rest of the song is a demonstration of both guitarists abilities, allowing them to flex their chops with trading solos and melodies. These kind of moments are thrown in throughout, retaining the listeners interest. All through the album the band have put a lot of effort into melody and catchiness, both in the riffs and solos. The overall feel results in a positive sound, and I can see it being quite a spectacle seeing it live during the longer melodic sections.

Another strength this album has, is its variety of songs contained within. Speed/ thrash can be very one dimensional sometimes and its very easy to use the same formula throughout. Each song has its own distinct feel, separating them from one another which can be quite a hard thing to acheive in this style across the 10 tracks squeezed onto this release – its worth mentioning a lot of the tracks average at 5 minutes or more. As mentioned previously, the band are showing a lot of ambition in their structures, however I do do not feel this lands in their favour all the time. The vocals in particular are being pushed too hard, resulting in a strained attempt to hit those notes and they miss the mark, take the ballad-esque “Just a Matter of Time”. I can see what is trying to be achieved here but it rarely diverts from the same pitch and is almost unlistenable. The closing track “Celestial Wisdom” follows this method, and I feel this is a wasted opportunity to end the album on a strong closing statement as it just fizzles out.

The production on this recording cant be faulted whatsoever. You can hear every member perfectly. The guitars are not overly distorted and clean enough to pick out each note even when the riffing is breakneck speed, and the bass can be heard throughout, complimenting the scratch of the guitars. The drums are recorded very well, almost every component heard clearly bar the double bass which is lost in the mix somewhat. I believe the vocals will put some listeners off, but don’t let that deter you! There is a huge amount of talent on display here, and the band are at their best when firing on all cylinders and going full tilt. The title track “Pillars of Chaos” and “Till The Grave” demonstrate this perfectly well. I can’t help but feel the band should have capitalised on this as this is where they excel, but credit to them for aspiring for more than that.

Conclusion

PILLARS OF CHAOS is a mixed bag, with some awesome straight up speed metal frenzy on offer, straddled with some ambitious songwriting which sometimes does not work in their favour. The vocals can sometimes leave a lot to be desired but you can’t knock the passion the band clearly show, and that’s the most important thing when it comes to heavy metal.

THENWOTHM Score: 6.5/10

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