Band: Bodach
Release: The Bleakest Land (EP)
Genre: Black Metal
Release Date: 18th July 2025
Label: Self-Released
Introduction
Four cautionary tales of folklore themes at a fantastic black metal pace are brought to you by this one man project from Dundee, Scotland.
The Bleakest Land
Tracklist:
- As Kelpies Storm The Land
- The Beast Below
- Curse Of The Nuckelavee
- Am Fear Laith Mòr
As the waves lap onto the land, we are introduced to this EP with the blast beats thundering along to the galloping beat of a herd of kelpies. With a mix of relentless black metal, a groovy guitar riff in the bridges, and harsh growls we are starting strong, on a song that is thematically concerning itself with the changes in our world.
Following this, we get a change of pace as the sludgy riff that kicks us off into the murky depths of Loch Ness, as the ancient beast is apprehended.
This EP provides an excellent variety in guitar prowess as through four tracks we get touches of the aforementioned the Khold style groove, the lumbering heavy doom riffs, some beautiful clean guitar sections on both electric and acoustic, a short and sweet solo, as well as of course the traditional black metal tremolo playing we all love and are here for.
The fourth and final track is the magnum opus of this short EP in my opinion, which oozes so much atmosphere throughout. Opening with a lovely acoustic guitar section before a wall of breakneck pace black metal crashes over you, the tale of the lumbering grey giant sweeps over us. Incorporating a more catchy chorus, a spoken word section, and a distressing ending this track creates an ambience that needs to be heard over and over again.
Conclusion
This EP may just be twenty minutes long, but it is very well paced with a variety of black metal styles and leaves me hungry for more to come in the future.
BMZ Rating: 8 out of 10
Support Bodach here: https://bodach.bandcamp.com/album/the-bleakest-land
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