Blood and Thunder’s new album A Reality In Ruins is a blood-pumping romp from beginning to end. The killer album cover by Jorge Gutierrez could hardly be more fitting: Listening to the music is like vaulting onto the back of red-eyed stallion in full gallop, with a battle ax in one hand and a fistful of mane in the other.
I’ve been following this Seattle-area band since catching their live show in April 2010 as the local opener for The Finnish Metal Tour. Those were relatively early days for the band, but something about their energy and budding talent caught me up, and they turned out to be really nice people to boot.
I’ve seen many more of their live shows since then (most recently at their album release show last night at the Seattle stop of the Ensiferum-headlining Paganfest America tour) and I’ve spent hours talking with them after their sets. As a completely DIY band, they’ve had more than their fair share of hurdles to overcome in the last three years, including losing two of their original members last summer. But they’ve not only persevered, they’ve grown. Their story is one of steady progress despite pitfalls, and with this new album (their second) they’re really hitting their stride and solidifying their musical identity. Continue reading »










