Bloodbath

For other uses, see Bloodbath (disambiguation).

Bloodbath is a Swedish death metal supergroup from Stockholm, formed in 1998. The band has released six full-length albums, two EPs and two DVDs depicting their performances at Wacken Open Air (in 2005) and Bloodstock Open Air (in 2010). The group consists of Martin Axenrot (ex-Opeth), Anders Nyström (Katatonia), Jonas Renkse (also Katatonia) and Nick Holmes (Paradise Lost).

Bloodbath
Bloodbath at Hellfest 2010
Background information
Origin	Stockholm, Sweden
Genres	Death metal
Years active	1998–present
Labels	Peaceville Century Media Napalm^[1]
Members	Anders Nyström Jonas Renkse Martin Axenrot Nick Holmes
Past members	Mikael Åkerfeldt Dan Swanö Per Eriksson Peter Tägtgren Joakim Karlsson
Website	www.bloodbath.biz

History

The band named themselves after the song "Blood Bath" from the album To the Gory End by extreme metal band Cancer.^[2] The initial lineup consisted of Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth) on vocals, Dan Swanö (Edge of Sanity, Nightingale) on drums, Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström (Katatonia, Diabolical Masquerade) on guitar, and Jonas Renkse (Katatonia, October Tide) on bass Bloodbath released the EP Breeding Death within a year of forming, followed two years later by their debut album Resurrection Through Carnage.^[3]

In 2004, Åkerfeldt left Bloodbath, wanting to free up more time for his primary band Opeth, with Peter Tägtgren (Hypocrisy) being brought in to replace him. The lineup changed further, with Swanö switching to guitar and Martin Axenrot (Witchery, Satanic Slaughter, Opeth) filling the position of drummer. With these changes the size and subsequent scope of the band increased, expanding beyond that of what was initially only a secondary side project. The band's second full release, Nightmares Made Flesh, was released in Europe in September 2004.

In February 2005, Tägtgren left the band citing "conflicting schedules". That same year, Åkerfeldt rejoined for a single live show at Germany's Wacken Open Air on 5 August. Prior to the show the band was quoted saying that the upcoming show would be "Not only the first, but also the last gig for Bloodbath (with Mikael Åkerfeldt on vocals)";^[4]. It would later turn out to also be the last show with Swanö. In September 2005, Bloodbath began searching for a new lead singer.

In August 2006, the band announced the departure of Swanö due to musical differences, as well as Swanö being busy with other projects. They simultaneously closed the vocal auditions, announcing that no suitable singer had been found.^[5]

On 27 March 2007 the band announced that a new line-up would be unveiled, along with news that they were producing new material, to be released that summer. In August 2007, Renkse posted on the band's official forums, suggesting that work was in progress.^[6] On 30 January 2008 it was announced via the Bloodbath website that Åkerfeldt would be rejoining the line-up on vocals, along with new member Per Eriksson (ex-21 Lucifers, ex-Genocrush Ferox) on guitar. In March 2008, the EP Unblessing the Purity was released. Also released in 2008 was the Wacken live CD/DVD The Wacken Carnage. Bloodbath released their third full-length album, The Fathomless Mastery, in October 2008.

On 25 April 2011 Bloodbath released their second DVD, Bloodbath over Bloodstock, containing their performance at Bloodstock Festival 2010, as well as the 2008 performance at Party San.^[7] On 1 November 2011, during the final show of the American Opeth/Katatonia tour at Ram's Head Live in Baltimore, MD, Bloodbath performed a surprise encore after Opeth's set.^[8]

On 14 April 2012 Blakkheim announced that Åkerfeldt had officially left the group.^[9] When asked whether the new vocalist was known or not, Blakkheim was quoted saying "Oh, he's a legend!".^[10] On 16 September 2014 the band announced the new vocalist as Nick Holmes from Paradise Lost.^[11]

Members

Current members

• Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström – guitars, backing vocals (1998–present)
• Jonas "Lord Seth" Renkse – bass, backing vocals (1998–present)
• Martin "Axe" Axenrot – drums, percussion (2004–present)
• Nick "Old Nick" Holmes – lead vocals (2012–present)
• Tomas "Plytet" Åkvik – guitar (2022–present; session 2017–2022)

Session members

• Niklas Sandin – bass (2018–present)
• Waltteri Väyrynen – drums, percussion (2018–present)

Former members

• Mikael Åkerfeldt – lead vocals (1998–2004, 2005–2012)
• Dan Swanö – drums, percussion (1998– 2004), guitars (2004–2006), backing vocals (1998– 2006)
• Per "Sodomizer" Eriksson – guitars (2007–2017)
• Peter Tägtgren – lead vocals (2004–2005)
• Joakim Karlsson – guitars (2018–2019)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

• Resurrection Through Carnage (2002)
• Nightmares Made Flesh (2004)
• The Fathomless Mastery (2008)
• Grand Morbid Funeral (2014)
• The Arrow of Satan Is Drawn (2018)
• Survival of the Sickest (2022)

EPs

• Breeding Death (2000)
• Unblessing the Purity (2008)

Live albums

• The Wacken Carnage (2008)
• Bloodbath over Bloodstock (2011)

References

1. "Bloodbath sign worldwide deal with Napalm Records". NextMosh. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
2. "Bloodbath interview 1/3". YouTube. 17 September 2011. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
3. "Bloodbath". MusicBrainz. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
4. . Bloodbath.biz. 9 August 2005. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
5. "Changes Through Blood, Life & Death | Bloodbath News". Bloodbath.biz. 2 August 2006. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
6. . Ultimatemetal.com. Archived from the original on 6 November 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
7. . Roadrunnerrecords.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
8. @BloodbathBand (4 November 2011). "Only two songs, but technically Bloodbath performed for the first time in USA a couple of days ago when Opeth's..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
9. . Bloodbath.biz. 14 April 2012. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
10. "Anders Nystrom On Katatonia's Drive To Expand American Audience And The Future Of Bloodbath". 26 September 2012.
11. "Exclusive: Bloodbath reveal new Vocalist! - Metal Hammer". Metalhammer.teamrock.com. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2015.

External links

• Official website