Bloodstrike (band)

Bloodstrike is a Colorado-based death metal band, formed in 2013,[1] that is a prominent name in the resurgence of the old school Swedeath or Swedish death metal scene,[2] utilizing the classic Hm-2 'chainsaw' guitar tone.[3]

Bloodstrike
OriginDenver, CO, USA
GenresDeath metal, Swedish death metal, Death 'n' roll
Years active2013-
LabelsRedefining Darkness Records, Raw Skull Recordz, Transcending Records
Websitebloodstrikemetal.com
MembersHolly Wedel
Jeff Alexis
Joe Piker
Ryan Alexander Bloom
Past membersRhiannon Wisniewski

History

Bloodstrike was formed in Denver, CO by guitarist Jeff Alexis and vocalist Holly Wedel in 2013[4] with the intent of playing an old school style of death metal. Alexis had formerly played bass in the thrash band Silencer[5] (with Ritchie Wilkinson ex-Angel Dust, ex-Demons and Wizards) and had known Wedel for a while when she was the vocalist for Torrid Flesh (with members of Satan's Host, including Marcus Garcia, who would later fill in on bass with Bloodstrike, as well as Richie Tice ex-Speedwolf,[6] ex-Havok)[7] and Nexhymn (with Tyler Cantrell[8] ex-Havok).[9] He had also filled in on bass with Nexhymn at one point.[3] They next contacted friend Joe Piker to play guitar because of his taste in music and past work with bands like Clusterfux,[10] Dripfed,[11] and Doomed Youth. After writing a few riffs, they searched for a drummer and eventually found Ryan Alexander Bloom, ex-Havok, after asking him if any of his students would be a good fit.[1] He said no, but that he was personally interested. The group was rounded out with bassist Rhiannon Wisniewski, a past staple member of several bands in the Cleveland area, such as Somnus, Dark Arena, Acheron, Avernus, Noctuary, Nordic Mist, and Sanctorum, and also a former member of Denver bands Of Man and Machine, Moth, and Sar Isatum.[12]

Bloodstrike recorded their 3 track demo Necrobirth at Firestorm Studios in Lakewood, CO in 2014 and released it on June 16th of that year.[13] The demo was quite popular in the death metal underground and was given excellent reviews.[4][14][15][16] The members of Bloodstrike, collectively, were well versed in the music industry. Bloom had been signed to Britain's Candlelight Records with Havok,[17] Alexis had been signed to Belgium's Mausoleum Records with Silencer,[18] Wisniewski had been on Root of All Evil Records with Somnus,[19] and Piker had been on Less Art Records when in Clusterfux.[20]They used this experience and the success of the demo to shop labels and eventually secure a deal with Redefining Darkness Records in 2015.[21] Other factors in their quick rise to success included that Bloom and label owner Thomas Haywood (ex-Abigail Williams) had been signed to Candlelight Records concurrently in 2008, and that Wisniewski and Haywood both came up and the Cleveland scene[22] and were aware of one another's work prior to Bloodstrike.[23]

On September 25th of 2015, Bloodstrike released their debut album In Death We Rot[24] on Redefining Darkness Records.[25] The album was recorded, once again, at Firestorm Studios and was mixed by Patrick Bruss of Crypticus and mastered by Ken Sorceron of Abigail Williams[26] This album was met with positive criticism and comparisons to bands like Entombed, Grave, and Bolt Thrower[27][28][29][30]and the band embarked on a supporting US tour in 2016.[31][32] The track “Abomination” was featured on the 2016 Transcending Records compilation Music From A Desolate World.[33]

Almost immediately after the release their first album, Bloodstrike began working on their follow-up, Execution of Violence.[34][35] The sophomore album was released on October 13th, 2017, on Redefining Darkness Records[36] in the USA and Canada and on Dutch label Raw Skull Recordz in Europe.[37][38] It was recorded at Firestorm Studios and was mixed by John Bart Van Der Wal and mastered by Dan Swanö of Bloodbath, Edge of Sanity, and Nightingale fame.[39] It has also been met with positive reviews,[40][41][42] and coverage in nationally recognized metal publications.[43] Immediately after the release of the album, Bloodstrike began a round of US touring for the album with Brazilian band Forceps, including an appearance at the inaugural Denver Death Fest.[44]

Discography

Demos
  • Necrobirth (2014)

Full-lengths
  • In Death We Rot (2015)
  • Execution of Violence (2017)

videos
  • Abomination (2015)
  • Bells of Death (2016)

Members
  • Jeff Alexis - guitars (2013-)
  • Holly Wedel - vocals (2013-)
  • Joe Piker - guitars (2013-)
  • Ryan Alexander Bloom - drums (2013-)

Former members

  • Rhiannon Wisniewski - bass (2013-2017)

session members

  • Marcus Garcia - bass (2017)

References
  1. "Bloodstrike's Holly Wedel on Putting a New Spin on Classic Death Metal - Decibel Magazine". decibelmagazine.com. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  2. "Bloodstrike - In Death We Rot (2015) - The Grim Tower". thegrimtower.com. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  3. LadyObscure. "Bloodstrike". ladyobscure.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  4. "BLOODSTRIKE – Necrobirth Demo (2014) - Demo Reviews @ Metal Forces Magazine". www.metalforcesmagazine.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  5. "SILENCER Complete Work On New EP". blabbermouth.net. 22 September 2002. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  6. "Speedwolf - discography, line-up, biography, interviews, photos". www.spirit-of-metal.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  7. "Torrid Flesh - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives". www.metal-archives.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  8. "Performer profile on Havok". axs.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  9. "NEXHYMN-Black Horizon EP". ThrashHead. 2 April 2012. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  10. "Clusterfux - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives". www.metal-archives.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  11. "Joe Piker". Discogs. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  12. "Rhiannon Wisniewski - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives". www.metal-archives.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  13. "Bloodstrike – Necrobirth (demo)". allabouttherock.co.uk. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  14. "Bloodstrike - Necrobirth". www.metalreviews.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  15. "NO CLEAN SINGING » SHORT BUT SWEET: SOULLESS CARNAGE, BLOODSTRIKE, SUMERLANDS". www.nocleansinging.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  16. "Review: Bloodstrike - Necrobirth". www.volumesofsin.net. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  17. "HAVOK Signs With CANDLELIGHT RECORDS". blabbermouth.net. 7 January 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  18. "SILENCER Putting Finishing Touches On New Album". blabbermouth.net. 19 June 2007. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  19. "Somnus interview @ Tartareandesire.com". www.tartareandesire.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  20. "Less Art Records". Discogs. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  21. "NO CLEAN SINGING » AN NCS ALBUM PREMIERE: BLOODSTRIKE: "IN DEATH WE ROT"". www.nocleansinging.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  22. "Get to know a Denver band: Bloodstrike". axs.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  23. "Thomas Haywood Jr". allabouttherock.co.uk. 9 March 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  24. Bloodstrike. In Death We Rot. USA: Redefining Darkness Records. REDA 003, 2015. Compact Disc.
  25. "Death Metal Underground: Bloodstrike to release debut – In Death We Rot". www.deathmetal.org. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  26. jlegg. "Bloodstrike - In Death We Rot (Review by Marcos "Big Daddy" Garcia)". metal-temple.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  27. "Bloodstrike – In Death We Rot (Review)". wonderboxmetal.com. 2 December 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  28. "Bloodstrike - In Death We Rot". Merchants Of Air. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  29. "Colorado's BLOODSTRIKE: In Death We Rot - Metalholic". metalholic.com. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  30. B., Pim. "Review Bloodstrike - In Death We Rot". lordsofmetal.nl. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  31. "ResidentRockStar.com - Bloodstrike". www.residentrockstar.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  32. Visionz, Ancient (29 August 2016). "Ancient Visionz: BLOODSTRIKE - IN DEATH WE ROT, 2016 TOUR (OLD SCHOOL DM)". ancientvisionz.blogspot.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  33. https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Bloodstrike/3540378289
  34. "BLOODSTRIKE (EN) - Queens of Steel". www.queensofsteel.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  35. Bloodstrike. Execution of Violence. USA: Redefining Darkness Records. REDA013, 2017. Compact Disc.
  36. "Bloodstrike Announces New Album". metalunderground.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  37. "Bloodstrike - Execution of Violence - MC (pre-order) - Raw Skull Recordz". Raw Skull Recordz. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  38. Bloodstrike. Execution of Violence. Netherlands: Raw Skull Recordz. RSR C017, 2017. Cassette.
  39. "Denver's BLOODSTRIKE to Release 'Execution of Violence" October 13 – Power Of Metal.dk". powerofmetal.dk. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  40. "Bloodstrike: Execution of Violence". cadavergarden.com. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  41. "BLOOD STRIKE (USA) "Execution of violence" CD 2017 (Redefining Darkness Records) – NECROMANCE DIGITAL MAGAZINE". necromance.eu. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  42. "Bloodstrike – Excecution [sic] of Violence Review". allabouttherock.co.uk. 6 September 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  43. "Track Premiere: Bloodstrike - 'Hell's Wasteland' - Decibel Magazine". decibelmagazine.com. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  44. "Forceps/Bloodstrike Tour Kickoff at 3 Kings 10/13 @ Denver, CO, United States, Denver [13 October]". denver.carpediem.cd. Archived from the original on 13 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
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