It’s been nine years since Tourniquet (TQT) released their last album Where Moth and Rust Destroy, three times as long as the wait for any of their past albums. After a successful venture into crowd funding, Tourniquet has released Antiseptic Bloodbath, the long awaited 8th album. The question on everyone’s lips, is it worth the wait?
When a band releases a few downright brilliant albums, they’re expected to make every proceeding album to be just as amazing, but in the case of Tourniquet, can they deliver? Is it fair to expect that from them? Let’s see… We expect TQT to be able to seamlessly weave jazzy rhythms and orchestral passages into their music. TQT has delivered with The Maiden Who Slept in the Glass Coffin and Lost Language of the Andamans. We expect TQT to lay down a strong groove. TQT has delivered with Chamunda Temple Stampede and Chart of the Elements. We expect TQT to provide intelligent thought provoking lyrics. TQT has delivered with Duplicitous Endeavor. We expect TQT to do something a little different each time, while still having the sound that we remember from the past. TQT has delivered with Fed by Ravens, Eaten by Vultures. We expect TQT to provide a solid slab of thrash. TQT has delivered with Antiseptic Bloodbath. We expect, and TQT has derived.
They’ve crammed a lot of variety into this album, almost too much. The opener is rather whimsical while the title track is one of the darkest songs they’ve ever written. In fact, it is so dark that the band incorporated the hymn ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’ into the ending, to lighten the mood. Which personally lessens the impact of the song. There is also plenty of variation within their longer, more progressive songs, as one would expect from modern TQT. For example, Maiden who Slept in the Glass Coffin starts off slow but builds up into a Marty Friedman shredfest. Did I mention there are also a variety of guest soloists? No? Well, there are. As well as Marty Friedman (ex-Megadeth) you can also hear solos from Karl Sanders (Nile), Bruce Franklin (Trouble), Santiago Dobles (Aghora) and Pat Travers, as well as plenty by Tourniquet’s own Aaron Guerra. As testament to Aaron’s excellent guitar work you can’t tell when a guest is playing. All the solo and lead work is top-notch, they don’t really stand out from each other.
Some of the songs certainly do stand out though. The title track is one of the darkest, most intense songs the band has ever recorded. Unfortunately some of the more mid-paced songs sound a little bland in comparison. They’re not bad songs by any stretch of the imagination; it’s just that they’re overshadowed by the stronger songs. Once you’ve been given a taste of the best, it’s hard to settle for anything less. Do not fret however, as the closing track, Fed by Ravens, Eaten by Vultures, is an absolute masterpiece, combining everything we have come to expect from Tourniquet.
After nine long years of waiting, I don’t want to spoil all the surprises for you. I will however answer the question on everyone’s lips. Was it worth the wait? Yes, it has been worth the wait.
The band has graciously uploaded the whole album to Youtube, so what are you waiting for? Don’t just take my word for it, go and take a listen!
Rating: 4.5/5
Review by: Rowland Gwynne
Visit Tourniquet at: www.tourniquet.net
