Hailing from the darkened fields of rural Illinois, BLOOD CULT has carved a niche for itself with a sound that's as deeply rooted in the local folklore as it is in the heavy metal lexicon. The band, masterminded by J.R. Preston since its inception in 1994, has earned a reputation for blending Southern Rock, Blues, and Country/Western with black metal, creating a unique genre: Redneck Black Metal. This February 14, 2025, in the United States BLOOD CULT is set to release their most anticipated album yet, We're Gonna Take Your Soul, under Witches Brew and Illinoisan Thunder.
We're Gonna Take Your Soul is not just an album; it's a narrative woven from the threads of the 80s and 90s Satanic Panic, a personal and societal critique packaged within nine tracks that total a running time of 33 minutes and 14 seconds. Each song is a story, an exploration of defiance, and a rebellion against the conventional. From the foreboding allure of "Demon Seed" to the introspective depth of "Love," BLOOD CULT delivers a sonic journey through the darker side of American culture.
The album opens with "Demon Seed," setting the tone with its heavy riffs and haunting vocals, embodying the spirit of a curse veiled as music. It's followed by "No Escape from Rock," a track that reminisces about the era when heavy metal was the scapegoat for societal ills, celebrating its unapologetic devilish roots. The title track, "We're Gonna Take Your Soul," is the epitome of the album's theme, with falsetto vocals that challenge the listener to embrace the inherent divide in metal music tastes.
Tracks like "Bully" and "Playground Creeper" delve deeper into the consequences of the Satanic Panic, addressing the darker realities of religious extremism and societal fear-mongering. Meanwhile, "The Devil’s Child" pays homage to the powerful women of the metal scene, and "In the Full Moon" revives the punk roots of BLOOD CULT, offering a raw and energetic sound that harks back to the band's early days.
Produced, mixed, and engineered by J.R. Preston himself at Tjolgtjar Studio, the album also features his work on vocals, guitar, bass, synth, keyboard, organ, and drums. Mastering was handled by Diego Acosta Ruiz, ensuring that each track delivers the crisp, powerful sound that fans expect. The album cover, crafted by Jeff Zornow, captures the eerie essence of BLOOD CULT’s thematic focus.
"We're Gonna Take Your Soul" promises to be a cornerstone in BLOOD CULT’s discography, a blend of musical innovation and thematic boldness. It's an album that not only challenges the norms but also invites listeners to explore the depths of their own perceptions of music, culture, and the occult. With this release, BLOOD CULT continues to redefine the boundaries of black metal, ensuring their influential legacy in the metal world remains as enduring and provocative as their music.
About BLOOD CULT:
BLOOD CULT, the sole creation of J.R. Preston, stands as a defiant pillar in the underground metal scene. Emerging from the rural depths of Moweaqua, Illinois in 1994, the band has sculpted a niche sound dubbed "Redneck Black Metal," uniquely combining elements of Southern Rock, Blues, and Country/Western with the aggressive tones of black metal. This fusion not only defines their sonic identity but also reflects the band’s deep roots in the lore and landscape of rural America.
Over the years, BLOOD CULT has become synonymous with innovation and authenticity, unafraid to blend seemingly disparate genres and themes. The band's lyrical content draws heavily from local stories and legends of Illinois, painting vivid narratives that explore the darker, often overlooked aspects of rural life. Their music carries a raw, unpolished grit, a signature of their commitment to unfiltered artistic expression.
J.R. Preston, the driving force behind BLOOD CULT, is a multifaceted artist whose contributions to music extend beyond performances. He is an ordained minister with a background in Gnosticism, a founder of the Church of Tjolgtjar—an occult research collective—and a creative force in animation and graphic arts, having worked with notable figures in professional wrestling and film. His artistic endeavors reflect a deep engagement with the esoteric, the spiritual, and the culturally subversive.
BLOOD CULT’s discography, marked by albums such as We Who Walk Behind the Rows and We Are the Cult of the Plains, showcases a progressive evolution in sound and thematic depth, culminating in their latest release, We’re Gonna Take Your Soul. This album not only captures the essence of their signature style but also serves as a commentary on the cultural phenomenon of the Satanic Panic of the 80s and 90s.
Throughout its existence, BLOOD CULT has maintained a fierce independence, operating under J.R. Preston's own label, Illinoisan Thunder, to produce and release their music. This autonomy has allowed for an unapologetic preservation of their creative vision, solidifying BLOOD CULT's status as icons in the metal underground, revered for their bold defiance and innovative blend of musical traditions.
We're Gonna Take Your Soul is not just an album; it's a narrative woven from the threads of the 80s and 90s Satanic Panic, a personal and societal critique packaged within nine tracks that total a running time of 33 minutes and 14 seconds. Each song is a story, an exploration of defiance, and a rebellion against the conventional. From the foreboding allure of "Demon Seed" to the introspective depth of "Love," BLOOD CULT delivers a sonic journey through the darker side of American culture.
The album opens with "Demon Seed," setting the tone with its heavy riffs and haunting vocals, embodying the spirit of a curse veiled as music. It's followed by "No Escape from Rock," a track that reminisces about the era when heavy metal was the scapegoat for societal ills, celebrating its unapologetic devilish roots. The title track, "We're Gonna Take Your Soul," is the epitome of the album's theme, with falsetto vocals that challenge the listener to embrace the inherent divide in metal music tastes.
Tracks like "Bully" and "Playground Creeper" delve deeper into the consequences of the Satanic Panic, addressing the darker realities of religious extremism and societal fear-mongering. Meanwhile, "The Devil’s Child" pays homage to the powerful women of the metal scene, and "In the Full Moon" revives the punk roots of BLOOD CULT, offering a raw and energetic sound that harks back to the band's early days.
Produced, mixed, and engineered by J.R. Preston himself at Tjolgtjar Studio, the album also features his work on vocals, guitar, bass, synth, keyboard, organ, and drums. Mastering was handled by Diego Acosta Ruiz, ensuring that each track delivers the crisp, powerful sound that fans expect. The album cover, crafted by Jeff Zornow, captures the eerie essence of BLOOD CULT’s thematic focus.
"We're Gonna Take Your Soul" promises to be a cornerstone in BLOOD CULT’s discography, a blend of musical innovation and thematic boldness. It's an album that not only challenges the norms but also invites listeners to explore the depths of their own perceptions of music, culture, and the occult. With this release, BLOOD CULT continues to redefine the boundaries of black metal, ensuring their influential legacy in the metal world remains as enduring and provocative as their music.
About BLOOD CULT:
BLOOD CULT, the sole creation of J.R. Preston, stands as a defiant pillar in the underground metal scene. Emerging from the rural depths of Moweaqua, Illinois in 1994, the band has sculpted a niche sound dubbed "Redneck Black Metal," uniquely combining elements of Southern Rock, Blues, and Country/Western with the aggressive tones of black metal. This fusion not only defines their sonic identity but also reflects the band’s deep roots in the lore and landscape of rural America.
Over the years, BLOOD CULT has become synonymous with innovation and authenticity, unafraid to blend seemingly disparate genres and themes. The band's lyrical content draws heavily from local stories and legends of Illinois, painting vivid narratives that explore the darker, often overlooked aspects of rural life. Their music carries a raw, unpolished grit, a signature of their commitment to unfiltered artistic expression.
J.R. Preston, the driving force behind BLOOD CULT, is a multifaceted artist whose contributions to music extend beyond performances. He is an ordained minister with a background in Gnosticism, a founder of the Church of Tjolgtjar—an occult research collective—and a creative force in animation and graphic arts, having worked with notable figures in professional wrestling and film. His artistic endeavors reflect a deep engagement with the esoteric, the spiritual, and the culturally subversive.
BLOOD CULT’s discography, marked by albums such as We Who Walk Behind the Rows and We Are the Cult of the Plains, showcases a progressive evolution in sound and thematic depth, culminating in their latest release, We’re Gonna Take Your Soul. This album not only captures the essence of their signature style but also serves as a commentary on the cultural phenomenon of the Satanic Panic of the 80s and 90s.
Throughout its existence, BLOOD CULT has maintained a fierce independence, operating under J.R. Preston's own label, Illinoisan Thunder, to produce and release their music. This autonomy has allowed for an unapologetic preservation of their creative vision, solidifying BLOOD CULT's status as icons in the metal underground, revered for their bold defiance and innovative blend of musical traditions.
Album Credits:
Producer: J.R. Preston
Recording Studio: Tjolgtjar Studio
Engineer: DAAR
Mastering: Diego Acosta Ruiz
Mixing: J.R. Preston
Album Cover Artist: Jeff Zornow
| Demon Seed | 3:52 | |
| No Escape From Rock | 3:22 | |
| We're Gonna Take Your Soul | 4:19 | |
| I'll Never Go Away | 3:31 | |
| Bully | 3:04 | |
| Playground Creeper | 3:09 | |
| The Devil's Child | 5:11 | |
| In The Full Moon | 3:08 | |
| Love | 3:44 |