I don't know how many people remember Blood Runs Black, but this EP holds up pretty damn well for my money, due in no small part to monumental opener "Introduction to New Blood"—which is actually one of the better tracks of its kind from the time period of the mid-90's. I'm talkin' absolutely vicious, scathing, churning metalcore: Total mosh, but not in a groovy breakdown kind of way, it's much darker—more of an "I'll crush your miserable life into ruins" kind of thing. Nothing but sick, dissonant chord progressions and dense palm-muting all over the place. Menacing stuff.
The band hailed from Syracuse, NY and I believe this was their only official release (they also did a demo—if anyone has it, hit me up). This CD, "Cast Into Eternity Within Duration of a Moment", released on Harvest Records in 1995, is hard as fuck to find now. I had it when I was a kid, but for some idiotic reason sold it when I was in college. A few years ago I paid $100+ for a big ass lot of CD's on eBay just to get this one back, and when I popped that sucker in? Whew, I can't believe how foolish I was to let this one go the first time around! You can still find it used, but you've gotta pay for it (there's one for $15 on Amazon.com right now, which ain't half bad, though).
Dan Johnson (vocals) and Brian Azzoto (guitar) later went on to form the somewhat comparable Godbelow, and Azzoto was also in Brand New Sin for a period of time afterwards. Now, Johnson's doing time in Unholy with ex-members of Santa Sangre, The Promise, and Another Victim, among others. It's pretty good shit, too. Sort of Exhorder-ish... and who could complain about that!?
Blood Runs Black "Introduction to New Blood"
Blood Runs Black "No Return"
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Comments
Buske has that demo, ask that fucker for it :)
6.23.2005 | By Guav
It’s kinda of weird hearing the whole palm muted chugging thing in hardcore after it was stolen and raped to death by death metal bands. Good stuff… more bands need to emulate this style of metalcore goddamn it.
6.23.2005 | By Zach
There were actually only 2 guitar players in the band. Marc Anderson was the main player, Brian “Slider” Azzoto, Kris Weichmann, and Tom Cavanaugh were all added as second guitarists at different times. They never played or recorded with 3 guitar players (unlike Godbelow) though - always been a 5 piece.
Prior to being called BLOOD RUNS BLACK, they were called INFUSION. I have all the INFUSION/BRB demos, I just need to rip them (somehow). If you think the EP is good, wait until you BRB demo with Kris on it.
INFUSION/BRB was always Syracuse’s hidden treasure. Because they weren’t Vegan Straight Edge — at a time when EVERYTHING that was associated with Syracuse was — they were, unfortunately, lost in the mix. Without a doubt though, the 2nd best thing to come from that scene, in my eyes.
A piss poor recording on that EP takes alot away from those songs. Hearing them live and/or in person was absolutely punishing. There were a few ghetto recordings of new songs they were working on floating around 315 somewhere years ago. Last I spoke to Danny, he was going to burn me a “Danny Johnson Boxset” of his musical career (which I believe homes those recordings as well as all his previous bands).
I’ll keep you posted.
“Someday you’re gonna feel… pain… like mine!”
6.24.2005 | By Buske DNA
Finally! Blood Runs Black gets some props. I couldn’t agree more with Buske that they were unfairly overlooked. I got that demo from them during a show in Atlanta and played the shit out of it. I wish I had been able to convert the tape to MP3 before I listened to it so many times.
Andrew, if you ever get any more of their stuff (beside the demo and the EP), PLEASE post it here.
I’m dying for some more Blood Runs Black!
6.25.2005 | By Carter
Can’t wait to see Azzoto in a band again, that guy writes some seriously good riffs. I imagine they did that whole BNS thing to try and make it to the big time, while in reality Godbelow was a fucking amazing band that never got the break they deserved. Thanks for posting this stuff, i don’t have the Blood Runs Black cd (yet).
6.30.2005 | By Mike
I saw a cd of them on a spanish distro: http://www.imdistribution.tk, it was quite cheap, less than 5$, i think.
2.3.2006 | By Anonymous
need to have the old infusion and blood runs black recordings…havent heard in over 10 years but are still in my brain…please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if any info…moving to sweden in a few months want to have before i go
12.3.2006 | By John Falbo
I’m listening to them right now! I loved them. I still have a BRB T-shirt complete with blood on it from a show at Hungry Charley’s. Those were the days. They were awesome live. Syracuse was really good at having great bands for a year and then having them break up. Another Victim lasted a bit longer than that though. Anyone remember Order of Deceit? It was one of Kieth’s bands with MK and Jocko. They were great too. There’s a demo floating out there somewhere but I don’t have it. I played in Paladin but we only put on one show at the Wescott with Human Shield. It was fun though.
11.18.2008 | By Dan