
Quest For Blood With Yukihiro Isso - Self Titled [Ektro Records - 2008]Quest for blood are the perfect blending of extreme metal with authentic Asian music utilizing your standard guitar, drums and keyboards of a metal band with flute and traditional Asian instrumentation. And unlike a lot of bands that try to blend extreme and traditional forms Quest for blood balance both disciplines perfectly with each giving Equal sonic air to breath. The songs for the most part are fairly high pace and dramatic with chugging to speedy progressive metallic riffling meeting the flute, recorders and various traditional Asian instrumental tones such as; Yukihiro, gemshorn, Noh-Kan, Dengakubue. Also there's quite a heavy use of keyboard or manic piano runs and over the top of it all every now and then there are oriental and often manic chanting/ vocalising. And through there are the odd dips in pace here and there for more dramatic and atmospheric passages most of the album rushers away in a speedy and brisk manner. Certainly something a little different but what else would you expect from Circles record label. All in all a rewarding often manic blurring of between metallic fair and Asian music.      Roger Batty
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