Bloodcum released one demo in 1987 and this debut album two years later, both on Wild Rags. The thing is, that this album includes all demos six songs plus four other ones. Demo songs are remastred, though. Bloodcum featured Messrs Araya and Hanneman. John Araya is Tom 'Slayer' Araya's brother, but Joey Hanneman is not related to Slayer's guitarist.

Bloodcum is ugly mix of spunk... errm... punk and speed metal. That would be crossover, as someone name it. This is totally "a soul thing", not "technical showcase", although instruments are effectively performed. Musically, Bloodcum is more on speed/thrash metal side, than on punk/HC side. Guitar solos are almost as sick as Slayer's. Songs balance between fast (some real fast shredding) and slow quite well, but at times similarity plagues this. Nowadays it feels, that this has no unique elements, but I didn't hear this back in 1989, so please remember that. This sounds very streetwise for sure. When the band wanted to sound angry, it's quite angry. Sound is raw as fuck, of course. Sometimes guitar gets buried and that's real bad.

One thing, and it's one of the basic things do not work in my ears: vocals. Okay, it's more like spoken above the music, in a HC way. I find them really boring and nothing but that. Lyrics feature some black humour among all social critic. Title track is about abortion by a clothes hanger, which is no fun, but 'Happily Married' is: "Married to a bitch, I should have been gay / an extra mouth to feed, this is what I don't need / give me a vasectomy!" Cover art is simple, so the name Bloodcum really shines off. Back cover features lime green picture surely different to any other metal album. Comes with a lyrics sheet and a small poster with three hobos on it. I wouldn't put it on my wall... But it's sad seeing how nicely albums were made "back then".

This does not light any fire in me, but freaks for speed metal/HC mix should try it if you can find it.

Rating: 3 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
10/20/2004 12:56