Blood Upon The Altar

Although Blasphemy’s recorded output was limited, its endurance over the last three decades is a testament to its originality and extremity, and it all began with the Blood Upon the Altar demo.In 1984, founding members Nocturnal Grave Desecrater and Black Winds and 3 Black Hearts of Damnation and Impurity began playing together, soon joined by Caller of the Storms and Black Priest of the 7 Satanic Blood Rituals. After briefly using the name Antichrist, they became Blasphemy and began writing songs. Following live rituals and early lineup changes, the band entered Fiasco Bros. Studio in 1989 with an $800 budget and emerged with one of the most devastating demo recordings ever made.Blood Upon the Altar introduced a new form of Black Metal—more confrontational and violent than their peers. Influenced by Bathory, Sodom, and Slayer, as well as Brazil’s Sarcófago and early Grindcore acts like Blood and Genocide (Repulsion), Blasphemy forged a sound that set a new standard for extremity.This edition marks the first time since its original release that Blood Upon the Altar appears as a proper stand-alone album. For many, it remains the band’s most powerful work. Earlier reissues often suffered from flawed masters and long gaps between tracks, now corrected and remastered by James Plotkin. With its original artwork restored and presented as a full-color gatefold, this joint NWN! and Ross Bay Cult edition reestablishes Blood Upon the Altar as one of Black Metal’s most important recordings.