Blood of the Saints explained

Blood of the Saints
Type:	Studio
Artist:	Powerwolf
Cover:	Blood of the Saints.jpg
Alt:	A wolf wearing a pope costume holding a papal ferula with two other wolves behind him in bishop costumes holding crosiers. The Powerwolf logo and the words "Blood of the Saints" along the bottom.
Released:	29 July 2011 17 December 2021 (10th Anniversary Edition)
Recorded:	December 2010 – February 2011
Studio:	Studio Fredman, Gothenburg, Sweden
Length:	41:46
Label:	Metal Blade Records
Producer:	Fredrik Nordström
Chronology:	Powerwolf studio album
Prev Title:	Bible of the Beast
Prev Year:	2009
Next Title:	Preachers of the Night
Next Year:	2013

Blood of the Saints is the fourth studio album by German power metal band Powerwolf, released in 2011.^[1] It is the band's first album with songs that had music videos, made for "We Drink Your Blood" and "Sanctified with Dynamite". In addition to recording at Studio Fredman, Sweden, the band recorded some parts of the album in the 12th-century Deutschherrenkapelle chapel in Saarbrücken.

A limited edition of Blood of the Saints included a bonus CD titled The Sacrilege Symphony (And Still the Orchestra Plays), which contained orchestral versions of Powerwolf songs. It was arranged by Dominic G. Joutsen, who previously worked for the metal band Heavenwood.^[2]

Critical reception

The record reached position number 23 in the German charts^[3] and 75 in the Swiss charts.^[4]

Metal.de wrote about the album: "This is a very melodic power metal sounding from the speakers, which impresses above all through catchiness and a powerful sing along factor. At least after the second run everyone will be able to sing along at least the choruses. Of course this is again due to the powerful yet clear voice of Attila Dorn, who has now finally given up his accent. He sings even more aggressively.^[5] The Metal Hammer judged: "Certainly: Powerwolf let their musical influences always open through, and if you listen well, the trained ear recognizes very quickly riff quotes from bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest or Accept. But how can you blame the wolves for creating excellent songwriting?"^[6]

The album won the Metal Hammer "Power metal album of the year" award.

Personnel

Powerwolf

• Attila Dorn – vocals
• Matthew Greywolf – lead and rhythm guitar
• Charles Greywolf – bass, rhythm guitar
• Falk Maria Schlegel – organ, keyboards

Additional musicians

• Roel van Helden – drums, percussion
• Marcel Sude – spoken words
• Gerhard Dilk – vocals (choir; bass)
• Bardo Stahl – vocals (choir; bass)
• Till Gros – vocals (choir; bass)
• Peter Kargerer – vocals (choir; bass)
• Thorsten Peeß – vocals (choir; bass)
• Ulrich Hinterberg – vocals (choir; tenor)
• Marin Traue – vocals (choir; tenor)
• Sebastian Koch – vocals (choir; tenor)
• Florian Keller – vocals (choir; tenor)
• Marco Korz – vocals (choir; tenor)
• Heinz Seger – vocals (choir; tenor)
• Christian Kuhn – vocals (choir; tenor)
• Jens Fried – vocals (choir; tenor)
• Rouven Bitz – vocals (choir; tenor)
• Dirk Reichel – vocals (choir; tenor)
• Frank Beck – vocals (choir; tenor)
• Christoph Höbel – vocals (choir; tenor)
• Ute Gapp – vocals (choir; alto)
• Britta Bethscheider – vocals (choir; alto)
• Bianca Bethscheider – vocals (choir; alto)
• Julia Sharon Harz – vocals (choir; alto)
• Charlotte Hess – vocals (choir; alto)
• Helen Vogt – vocals (choir; soprano)
• Karin Trautwein – vocals (choir; soprano)
• Christine Kruchten – vocals (choir; soprano)
• Anne Diemer – vocals (choir; soprano)
• Angela Streit – vocals (choir; soprano)
• Eva Gehring – vocals (choir; soprano)
• Maria Speicher – vocals (choir; soprano)
• Bianca-Patricia Wegner – vocals (choir; soprano)
• Emily Schmitz – vocals (choir; soprano)

Technical personnel

• Kristian Kohlmannslehner – engineer, recording, editing
• Fredrik Nordström – mixer
• Henrik Udd – mixer
• Peter In de Betou – mastering
• Kai Stahlenberg – recording, editing
• David Buballa – engineer, editing
• Francesco Cottone – choir conductor
• Charles Greywolf – bass engineer
• Rouven Bitz – choir conductor

Other personnel

• Manuela Meyer – photography
• Matthew Greywolf – artwork, layout

Notes and References

1. Web site: Powerwolf – "Blood of the Saints" (CD). Metal Underground. 13 January 2014.
   - Web site: Powerwolf – Blood Of The Saints. Discogs. 13 January 2014.
   - Web site: Blood of the Saints. Sputnik Music. 13 January 2014.
   - Web site: Powerwolf – Blood of the Saints CD. DC Universe. 13 January 2014.
2. Web site: Blood of the Saints. Metal Archives. 13 January 2014.
3. Web site: Offizielle Deutsche Charts – Offizielle Deutsche Charts. www.offiziellecharts.de. 28 September 2019.
4. Web site: Powerwolf – Blood Of The Saints – hitparade.ch. hitparade.ch. 28 September 2019.
5. Web site: Powerwolf – Blood Of The Saints Review • metal.de. metal.de. 2019-10-07.
6. Web site: Kritik zu Powerwolf Blood Of The Saints. Metal Hammer. de-DE. 7 October 2019.