The Arrow of Satan Is Drawn

The Arrow of Satan Is Drawn is the fifth studio album by Swedish death metal band Bloodbath, released on 26 October 2018 via Peaceville.^[10][11][12] It is the only album to feature guitarist Joakim Karlsson.

The Arrow of Satan Is Drawn
Studio album by Bloodbath
Released	26 October 2018 (2018-10-26)
Recorded	January – 23 July 2018
Studio	Ghost Ward, The City of Glass & Tri-Lamb (Stockholm, Sweden)
Genre	Death metal
Length	41:06
Label	Peaceville
Producer	Bloodbath
Bloodbath chronology
Grand Morbid Funeral (2014) The Arrow of Satan Is Drawn (2018) Survival of the Sickest (2022)
Singles from The Arrow of Satan Is Drawn
"Bloodicide" Released: 13 September 2018^[1] "Chainsaw Lullaby" Released: 18 October 2018^[2]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Forté	^[3]
Gaffa	4/6^[4]
Laut.de	^[5]
Loud Magazine Australia	87/100^[6]
Metal Hammer	6/7^[7]
Nya Wermlands-Tidningen	^[8]
Rock Hard	8/10^[9]

Background and release

In a 2017 interview with Metal Wani, frontman Nick Holmes stated that the band will enter the studio in the end of January next year to record the follow-up to Grand Morbid Funeral.^[13] The recording process had officially concluded on 23 July 2018, with hints at featuring "legendary" guests on the album.^[14] On 17 August 2018, the band have confirmed The Arrow of Satan Is Drawn as title of their new album for a 26 October release via Peaceville.^[12] A lyric video for the first single of the album "Bloodicide", which featuring Jeff Walker of Carcass, John Walker of Cancer and Karl Willetts of Memoriam and formerly of Bolt Thrower, was available for streaming on 13 September 2018.^[1] On 18 October 2018, the band released a music video for the song "Chainsaw Lullaby".^[2]

Guitarist Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström commented on The Arrow of Satan Is Drawn:

What are we presenting with this album? Humanity's unfaltering march prone towards downfall. The threat to this world isn't from far beyond the sun, the enemy is right here, within the walls. Only the god of emptiness will survive us all. The arrow of Satan is drawn! It wasn't deliberately planned to be just British guests, but as it randomly turned out that way, it became a really cool feat! Nick [Holmes], Jeff, Karl and John are all legends respectively within the UK death metal scene and we're proud to bring them all together on our little old school soiree to tribute the days of old.^[12]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Fleischmann"	3:38
2.	"Bloodicide"	4:56
3.	"Wayward Samaritan"	3:39
4.	"Levitator"	4:37
5.	"Deader"	4:05
6.	"March of the Crucifiers"	4:04
7.	"Morbid Antichrist"	4:04
8.	"Warhead Ritual"	3:38
9.	"Only the Dead Survive"	5:06
10.	"Chainsaw Lullaby"	3:19
Total length:		41:06

Limited edition bonus tracks and 7" vinyl

No.	Title	Length
11.	"Ride the Waves of Fire"	3:48
12.	"Wide Eyed Abandon"	5:00
Total length:		49:54

Personnel

Bloodbath Bloodbath – production, engineering, art direction Old Nick – vocals, songwriting (7) Joakim (Karlsson) – lead guitar, songwriting (3, 9, 11 & 12) Blakkheim – rhythm guitar, songwriting (2, 5, 7, 9 & 10) Lord Seth – bass guitar, songwriting (1, 4, 6 & 8) Axe – drums

Additional musicians Jeff Walker – guest vocals (track 2) John Walker (Cancer) – guest vocals (track 2) Karl Willetts – guest vocals (track 2) Plytet (Tomas Åkvik) (Lik, Nale) – guitar solo (tracks 4, 8)

Production Karl Daniel Lidén – engineering, mixing, mastering Eliran Kantor – cover art Matt Vickerstaff – artwork, layout Steve Brown – photography John Sjölin – co-writer on "Only the Dead Survive"

Charts

Chart (2018)	Peak position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[15]	51
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)^[16]	37
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[17]	50
Scottish Albums (OCC)^[18]	86
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[19]	62

References

1. "BLOODBATH: Lyric Video For 'Bloodicide' Song From 'The Arrow Of Satan Is Drawn' Album". Blabbermouth.net. 13 September 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
2. wookubus (18 October 2018). "Bloodbath Premiere 'Chainsaw Lullaby' Music Video". Theprp. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
3. "Bloodbath: The Arrow of Satan Is Drawn". Retrieved 24 April 2020.
4. "Blod, död och goda gamla traditioner". gaffa.se. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
5. "Faulkost vom Feinsten". laut.de. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
6. "Bloodbath: The Arrow Of Satan Is Drawn | Album Reviews". Loud. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
7. "Kritik zu Bloodbath THE ARROW OF SATAN IS DRAWN". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
8. Richardson, Lena (23 April 2020). "Jan Stenmark visar humor och surrealism". NWT. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
9. "BLOODBATH – The Arrow Of Satan Is Drawn". ROCK HARD Heavy-Metal-Magazin. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
10. Bellino, Vince (17 August 2018). "Bloodbath Announce New Album, "The Arrow of Satan is Drawn"". Decibel. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
11. Pasbani, Robert (17 August 2018). "BLOODBATH Announce New Album, The Arrow Of Satan Is Drawn, Due in October with All-Star Guests from CARCASS, BOLT THROWER, CANCER". Metal Injection. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
12. Divita, Joe (27 August 2018). "Bloodbath Spill 'The Arrow of Satan Is Drawn' Album Details". Loudwire. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
13. "Death Metal Supergroup BLOODBATH To Begin Recording New Album In January". Blabbermouth.net. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
14. wookubus (23 July 2018). "Bloodbath Complete New Album, Hint At 'Legendary' Guests". Theprp. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
15. "Austriancharts.at – Bloodbath – The Arrow of Satan Is Drawn" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
16. "Bloodbath: The Arrow of Satan Is Drawn" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
17. "Offiziellecharts.de – Bloodbath – The Arrow of Satan Is Drawn" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
18. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
19. "Swisscharts.com – Bloodbath – The Arrow of Satan Is Drawn". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 November 2018.