{"title":"Phlebotomized","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePhlebotomized is an avant-garde \/ death metal band hailing from the Netherlands. Originally known as Bacterial Disease, the band was formed in 1989 and later changed their name to Phlebotomized in 1990. After a successful run, they disbanded in 1997 but made a triumphant return in 2013 when they reformed. With their unique blend of genres and impressive musical prowess, Phlebotomized has solidified themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the metal scene.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThroughout their career, Phlebotomized has pushed boundaries and challenged conventions with their innovative sound. Their music combines elements of avant-garde experimentation with the intensity of death metal, resulting in a truly distinctive sonic experience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDespite their initial disbandment, Phlebotomized's impact on the metal genre remained undeniable. Their influence can still be felt today among both established bands and emerging artists alike. With their reunion, fans old and new have been given the opportunity to witness firsthand the raw talent and passion that defines this exceptional group.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"immense-intense-suspense","title":"Immense Intense Suspense","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhat do you get when you put Demilich, At The Gates' first album\/EP and Nocturnus into a blender to transform them into a hulking, abominable monster that makes the major sciences weep and wonder why you created something that defies them so? Well... this. Indeed, this seems to be the only thing that can come close to an auditory form of Cthulhu. The full length debut for this doom\/avant-garde metal act, serves up both originality, and integrity and is seen as a classic album.Phlebotomized started out as a grindcore-ish Death Metal band, releasing their early demos sounding like this. Somewhere along the line, the band decided to change their style, as \"Immense, Intense, Suspense\" values melodies, and symphonic passages. This did not take away from the evil, depressing mood that swims through the music. This takes what Demilich wrote on 'Nespithe' and builds on it. They take what Nocturnus wrote on 'The Key', and add their own little twist. It's got the twisting and amorphous song structures of 'The Red in the Sky is Our's', and then some. They create the atmosphere Portal merely dreams of creating. The first thing one will notice hovering above the pounding guitar riffs, is the violin and keyboard passages that serve as the rhythm section. Melancholic, yet brutal, the songs present a story, with lyrics wrapped around the theme of religion. The music does not really have one true form. You hear mixtures of clean, and growl vocals, as well as the occasional clean vocal passage. Acoustic guitars open songs, while the violin and keyboards are ever-present. A gloomy atmosphere is placed, while a violin dances with violent, death metal guitar riffs. The melodic breaks throughout the album hinder the progression of the brutal parts, while the violin almost diminishes, and remains in limbo, only to pick up alongside the blasting guitar riffs. Phlebotomized gives homage to their early roots, with much of the heavier parts of the drumming focused on speed and progression. The full band occasionally comes through, yelling lines in unison. The majority of this album is rather doomy and mid-paced, and actually creates a great atmosphere, thereby putting the keyboards (and even a fucking violin!) to proper use. Seriously, listen to 'Barricade' the recurring soft section. It sounds very inspiring and atmospheric. \"Immense, Intense, Suspense\" seems to have gotten lost somewhere in time. An album that contains so many different elements, from brutal, riff-filled structures, to meloncholic, and bittersweet melodies, is hard to imagine being so unheard of. Perhaps it is just another album ahead of it's time. This is a death metal album, is it not?\" Yes it is! But those of you who needn't mindlessly bang your head, (as necessary as it is), who can allow things like atmosphere and intelligence to occasionally permeate into your realm will really appreciate this.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Napalm Records","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50424886395211,"sku":"2223201","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50424885870923,"sku":"2009958","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_008a789b_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726783948"},{"product_id":"skycontact","title":"Skycontact","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"Skycontact\" is Phlebotomized's sophomore effort which retains little to nothing from their previous LP \"Immense, intense, suspense\". \"Skycontact\" is one of those polarizing albums that usually shuns old fans away from a band's later work due to its radical escape from familiar playing grounds, and more often than not a completely disparity in the collective's approach to songwriting. Only three years separate this release from the band's debut album but the differences are perfectly evident. Brutality has drastically decreased (if we consider \"Immense, Intense, Suspense\" brutal) although heavy, dense and muddy guitar riffs are still present as growled vocals do. But this time emphasis is put on melodies and mood, as the ever present keyboard or the presence of clean vocals indicate. This clearly isn't your typical album by any stretch of imagination, as you'll witness the band rapidly changing from upbeat rocking grooves into quasi-ambient psychedelia, intermixed with a forlorn death metal riff here and there. Yes, death metal still exists in this album, although it's the different influences that make it special. The album's genre is quite difficult to define because of its heterogeneous composition. In a way this album verges a bit on Edge Of Sanity's mid-nineties work and this influence is best witnessed in the four part suite that closes the album. You could easily find passages that could be described as: ambient, death metal (without blast beats), fusion, grunge, rock, doom... although not every song features all these influences, (thrashy) death metal and ambient part are what you will come across more often than not. This album is clearly for the open-minded who enjoys savoring his\/her metal best with \"eclectic-sauce\". It's not an easy album to digest, not when it reminds me of Edge Of Sanity, In The Woods..., Faith No More or Genesis! Nope, it isn't going to be an easy one for sure, and even when it comes to avant-garde metal this is very much over-the-top in its pretentiousness. Leave those expectations waiting in the backyard for a while, crack up a bottle of your best distilled flavour, and just kick back and enjoy the relaxing and soothing nature of this album. It's definitely worth your time. This one is just different from even the non-normative ones, and while therein lies its downfall so does its brilliance and sheer beauty.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Napalm Records","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50477394067787,"sku":"2010001","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_874d6eb8_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727471466"},{"product_id":"deformation-of-humanity","title":"Deformation Of Humanity","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe full length debut \"Immense Intense Suspense\" from this Death\/Doom\/Avant-garde Metal act from the Netherlands served up both originality and integrity back in 1994. Phlebotomized started out as a Grindcore\/Death Metal band, releasing their early demos in that style. Somewhere along the line the band decided to change their style, as \"Immense, Intense, Suspense\" valued melodies and symphonic passages. This change did not take away the evil, depressing mood that drifted through the music. It took the Death Metal scene by storm, giving the band and the album a legendary Cult status worldwide. A true classic ahead of its time. The album took what Demilich wrote on \"Nespithe\" and build on it. The band took what Nocturnus did on \"The Key\" and added their own little twist. It has got the twisting and amorphous song structures of early At The Gates, and then some. It had a melancholic feeling only achieved better by the mighty old My Dying Bride. From those days, to the present: \"Deformation of Humanity\" was written and recorded during a long process from 2015 until 2018 and sees the band return to their roots, back to where they left us in 1994. The majority of \"Deformation of Humanity\" is still doomy and mid-paced, but also contains really fast parts. It actually creates a great atmosphere, thereby putting the keyboards to proper use. It sounds very inspiring and atmospheric, full of details, skilled musicianship and has a top-notch production which is very warm and rich. The first thing you notice - hovering above the pounding guitar riffs - are the keyboard passages that serve the rhythm section. Melancholic, yet brutal, the songs present a story. The music does not really have a true defined form. You will hear grunted vocals, as well as the occasional clean vocal passage. Acoustic guitars open songs, while the keyboards are ever-present. A gloomy atmosphere is placed, while the keyboard dances with violent Death Metal guitar riffs. If you are a Death Metal fan that still craves for the 90's, you need this! We guarantee you it does not get better than this. Simple! If you need to bang your head check out \"Deformation of Humanity\" for some real Old School Death Metal. For those of you who need not mindlessly bang their head, who can allow things like atmosphere and intelligence to occasionally enter into your realm, you will really appreciate this just as well. But still, we would not justify what Phlebotomized delivers on this come-back album, because there is so much more to hear and discover. Something that is rare these days, an album that grows, an album that reveals something new with each spin. Perhaps it is again an album ahead of its time, although it is definitely looking back in time just as well.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Napalm Records","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50477484376395,"sku":"2009920","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_5cbdeccd_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727473043"},{"product_id":"clouds-of-confussion","title":"Clouds Of Confussion","description":"\u003cp\u003eDutch progressive Death Metal legends Phlebotomized at the peak of their 30 year old career! Phlebotomized is among the oldest Death Metal bands from Holland and one of the first using violin and synthesizers in extreme metal. Their typical \"Death Metal with a twist\" caused a stir in the booming Dutch metal scene back in the early 90's. Formed in 1989, Phlebotomized started out as a Grindcore\/Death Metal band, inspired by acts like Morbid Angel, Nocturnus and Paradise Lost. Later on, the band began to use keyboard and violin arrangements, resulting in their unique sound. Their \"Devoted to God\" demo (1992) was recognized as a classic one demo worldwide. In 1994 Phlebotomized released their seminal \"Immense Intense Suspense\" album which offered an intelligent blend of atmosphere and brutality. It took the Death Metal scene by storm, giving both the band and the album a legendary Cult status worldwide. The band played numerous shows but disbanded shortly after the release of their second full-length album \"Skycontact\" in 1997. After a hibernation of 16 years, Phlebotomized regrouped in 2013 upon the re-release of their classic albums. The band played several live-shows and started thinking of forging a new album. After some changes in line-up, their comeback album \"Deformation of Humanity\" was recorded and released by Hammerheart Records in 2019). This album received raving reviews and Phlebotomized played several (international) shows and festivals in 2019. In 2020 they hit the studio again to record their EP \"Pain, Resistance, Suffering\", released in 2021. Again a recording containing all elements that distinguishes Phlebotomized from the ordinary: wayward and exploring beyond the scopes of conventional paths in Death Metal. Forward to 2023 and \"Clouds Of Confusion\"! If you are a Death Metal fan that still craves for the 90's, you need \"Clouds of Confusion\". It does not get better than this if you love what Phlebotomized did in the past. If you need to bang your head check out \"Clouds of Confusion \" for some real Old School Death Metal. For those of you who need not mindlessly bang their head, who can allow things like atmosphere and intelligence to occasionally enter into your realm, you will really appreciate this just as well. But still, we would not justify what Phlebotomized delivers on this great album, because there is so much more to hear and discover. Something that is rare these days, an album that grows, an album that reveals something new with each spin. Perhaps it is again an album ahead of its time, although it is definitely looking back in time just as well.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Napalm Records","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50477699760459,"sku":"2015404","price":28.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50477699039563,"sku":"2015399","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_242c2fe1_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727476800"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_db3775f9_thumbnail_4096_a5cb8f00-20d9-4bcc-ae9f-e9860c5b3fec.jpg?v=1726783918","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/de\/collections\/phlebotomized.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}