I consider myself lucky to discover Bloodbound from their debut album “Nosferatu” back in 2006 and from then I have been sort of addicted to their music. A power metal band with an incredible debut and an almost equal 2^nd album, 2007’s “Book Of Dead”.

Two years later, while in the meantime the original vocalist and frontman Urban Breed has returned (in “Book Of Dead” it was Michael Bormann on vocals), Bloodbound return with their third album under the working title “Tabula Rasa”.

Anyone would expect, considering their previous excellent works, that Bloodbound’s new album would be another power metal ‘masterpiece’. Unfortunately, this turns out nothing else than a big disappointment! When the release of “Tabula Rasa” was announced, Bloodbound were still signed in Metal Heaven, but shortly before the release they signed with new Blistering Records. Someone who knows Metal Heaven’s releases in general, must have noticed that the label is really careful with its releases and the traditional sound is very important – either it’s heavy or hard rock or power metal. What do I mean by that? When I listened to the album, I could then tell the reason why it wasn’t released by Metal Heaven. The material is not Bloodbound as we’ve known them. Apart from the compositions being boring, the sound is pretty much heavier and away from their original power metal style, while some riffs could easily have been written by a newly formed thrash band. Result of experimentation? Need of a change or simply lack of inspiration? Whatever the reason to that is, truth is that a new band that proved itself as a great band with its first two releases, should keep it there! They are still newcomers after all, they are not that experienced with many albums in their career so that they can start experimenting so soon! I sound dogmatic, but my demands are high when I see bands with great potential.

I consider “Tabula Rasa” as an early ‘bend’ in Bloodbound’s career…I personally believe that it shouldn’t belong to a band that has delivered a great first couple of albums and made us looking forward their new effort…I will keep looking forward to their next albums because this is a band that really ‘has’ something more to say, but I will simply ignore “Tabula Rasa”…