Bloodbath is quite a recent band, dating back to 2000, from Sweden. They have four albums out (all are a must listen), and members consist from both Katatonia and Opeth. Peter Tagtgren (Hypocrisy, Pain) even helped out with the vocals in their album 'Nightmares Made Flesh'.
If you're a Death Metal fan and have never heard of these guys, I recomend the first thing you do after reading this is click on the link beneath.
Edited By Atrocious:
After years of anticipation and speculation, Century Media was proud to announce that they would be releasing the band's first full-length album, "Resurrection Through Carnage", featuring the same lineup as its first (and only) release, the classic "Breeding Death" EP: Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth) - vocals, Anders Nyström (Katatonia) - guitars, Jonas Renkse (Katatonia) - bass, Dan Swanö (Nightingale, Edge Of Sanity, Star One) - drums.
Upon releasing "Breeding Death", Bloodbath described themselves as "a tribute to the old-school death metal that reigned in the late '80s and onward." The response to the EP's three songs was tremendous. Metal Maniacs hailed it as "the collective effort of Sweden's most prolific and talented power hitting songsmiths.. Finally, a super group has taken the idea of praising the glory years of death metal...and further, this super group has done the right thing by pooling its abundance of talent to form something new instead of falling victim to the stylistic trappings of the retro movement." Travis Smith (Death, Iced Earth, Opeth, Katatonia etc) completed the artwork & layout for "Resurrection through Carnage" (2002), the cover of which guitarist Anders Nyström calls "A nod (in gore) to the KISS 'Destiny' album." Speaking of the material, Mikael Åkerfeldt (who let loose his corrosive throat on the entire album) calls it, "ten tracks of purest form winter like death metal"; an album of old-school head banging bliss that recalls the glory days of Swedish savagery at the dawn of the '90s.
And the nightmare continues! Swedish Bloodbath, mostly wrongly referred to as just a retro project or all star outfit, are luckily and fiercely back on the metal map with a new album, very suitably entitled Nightmares Made Flesh, determined to prove all of those wrong who thought we were dealing with a short-living and rather fun-orientated back-to-the-roots unity here. In fact, the previously released Breeding Death EP (200) and the full length debut album Resurrection Through Carnage (2002) turned out to be a fully vicious, most needed offering to todays pale death metal scene and the embracing reception given by both audiences and media to those contemporary masterpieces has fueled the band to hit even harder with their sophomore album. Initially Bloodbath consisted of vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth), Anders Nyström (Katatonia, Bewitched, Diabolical Masquerade) on guitars, Jonas Renkse (Katatonia, October Tide) on bass and Dan Swanö (Edge of Sanity, Nightingale, Infestdead) but Åkerfeldt recently opted to abandon the bands ranks due to his main bands busy schedule. After intense research among befriended and likeminded musicians, Bloodbath can proudly announce their new line-up entries of vocalist Peter Tägtgren (Hypocrisy, Pain) and drummer Martin "Axe" Axenrot (Witchery, Satanic Slaughter), who replaces now-guitarist Swan.. behind the kit. This new musical set up has added a lot of challenging variety and fresh intensity to Bloodbath's compositions (as well as the long-awaited ability for the band to finally play live shows), as you will easily witness on the featured 12 new tracks of Nightmares Made Flesh. Recorded with producer Jens Bogren in Örebro, Sweden at Fascination Street (Katatonia, Vomitory, Lambretta etc.), this striking new album gathers the best elements of both the old school Swedish death metal school as well as the magic brutality and technical edge of US-Style death metal, highlighted by Tägtgrens heaviest, most intimidating vocal delivery ever as well very organic, full-on pounding drumming by Axenrot, into an irresistible, breathtaking mixture which will leave no follower of brutal metal questioning Bloodbath's value and qualities. Guitarist Nyström comments the release as follows: After being resurrected through carnage our nightmares made flesh! This time we promise the world an even more brutal and varied piece of real and pure death metal. Take the outstanding performances by the new members Axe and Tägtgren into account and BLOODBATH will prove no longer only to be a tribute to death metal; but also death metal's very own elite." We couldnt add more truth to that.
Bloodbath revealed their live debut, conducted by a revised cast of musicians, would be held at the 'Wacken Open Air' festival in Germany, August 2005. However, Peter Tägtgren was to back out, due to "conflicting schedules", and the band announced Mike Åkerfeldt would make a return for the gig.
http://www.myspace.com/bloodbathband
