Ancient Wraith of Ku

This album is killer. It combines elements of thrash and old-school black metal with a decidedly unique feel related to the personality of the music and the cosmological lyrics. US Black Metal is represented by some great bands and Blood Storm is one that sounds fresh, interesting, and even fun.

The intro begins with a decidedly old-school feel; a plodding, ominous start that isn't overbearing or too long. Then we are thrust into the first track, Quantum Nihilism, which begins with whirlwind-like drum passages and punctuations over some frantic riffing. It is quite chaotic, and that is a prevalent theme throughout the rest of the album in tracks such as Spectral Holocaust and Ancient Wraith.

Cold Flesh Space is a highlight. This song recalls Celtic Frost with it's thrashing back beats, making you want to headbang until your face melts off. The song has a slower passage with an absolutely monstrous kick drum production, and then it proceeds to continue the thrash with their signature riffing style. Kmo A'Ajei Virus is another kick-ass thrasher, although it gets it's point across in a much shorter time.

One key aspect of their style of riffs is that some of them almost seem truncated. A guitarist with a different style might keep going and make a longer riff, but in many cases Blood Storm decide to stop the riff after a few beats and just repeat it--it sounds chaotic and relentless and definitely is effective on The Ancient Wraith of Ku.

V.V.V.V.V. has a solo section which not only features Azarcuth on guitar, but then Deyaxulgaat chimes in with a nice ugly distorted bass sound, and solos himself. This is one of several moments on the album that make one take notice, along with some nice vocal shreiks by Mezzadarus in the Slaughter cover, The Curse.

Another highlight is Possesion by the Ku, which features an insane ascending riff pattern that seems to challenge you to think "ok, this is the time the riff will stop." But then the riff just jumps up the scale to repeat at the next interval. This can be read as insanity and exhibits an almost playful(?) attitude that dominates the album. Somehow a willfulness to do what does not make sense ends up making perfect sense.

Blood Storm give the listener the effect that they are having fun, as strange as it is to say about a band that can be considered Black Metal. Revel in metal and bang your head, and pick up The Ancient Wraith of Ku.