Formed in Bollnas, Sweden, Bloodbound is a Power Metal band founded in 2004 by keyboardist Fredrik Bergh and guitarist Tomas Olsson. While the original line-up included vocalist Urban Breed and drummer Oskar Belin, there have been several line-up changes over the years. Their current line-up has been in place since 2017 and includes Bergh and Olsson joined by vocalist Patrik Selleby (since 2011), guitarist Henrik Olsson (since 2007), bassist Anders Broman (since 2012), and drummer Daniel Sjogren (since 2017). Because of the band’s use of ‘corpse’-style make-up in photos, some have linked them to Black Metal, but Bloodbound sound is pure and unfiltered Swedish Power Metal. And they remain one of the most exciting bands of the genre.

Bloodbound released their debut album, NOSFERATU, in 2005, and have unleased many albums since then including BOOK OF THE DEAD (2007), TABULA RASA (2009), UNHOLY CROSS (2011), IN THE NAME OF METAL (2012), STORMBORN (2014), WAR OF DRAGONS (2017), RISE OF THE DRAGON EMPIRE (2019), and CREATURES OF THE DARK REALM (2021). While the band’s earlier albums had lyrics that dealt with darker themes, they began to shift their focus to medieval fantasy topics in 2014. By 2017, their lyrics were completely focused on Game of Thrones themes including many references to dragons. Although their lyrical focus had changed, they still remained as powerful as ever, musically. With this new approach, their music soared as if fueled by fire and carried to the heavens on a pair of wings.

Bloodbound returns in 2023 with TALES FROM THE NORTH, their 10th studio album overall. While album opener “Tales from the North” may start things off with a gentle Folk melody, a little over a minute into the track, the classic Bloodbound aural assault begins. Highlights include “The Raven’s Cry,” “Drink with the Gods,” “1066,” and “Odin’s Prayer,” but those are just tasters of what you’ll find on TALES FROM THE NORTH. Mixing Metal power with melodic hooks, songs like “Stake My Claim,” ‘Sail Among the Dead,” and “Between the Enemy Lines” are sure to become classics in the Bloodbound canon. The music on this album leans heavy into Nordic Folk without losing the power of their Metal roots, adding in many catchy keyboard and guitar riffs without sounding too commercial. This album will most certain please longtime fans, and there’s no doubt that it is going to attract a legion of new ones. This is the sound of Bloodbound.

BLOODBOUND

TALES FROM THE NORTH

Available NOW!