Mad Grandiose Bloodfiends is Ancient's third full-length release. The album was recorded, mixed and mastered in Cue Recording Studios, Falls Church, Virginia during September 1997.
This album hearkens a rather drastic change of musical focus for the group, into a more melodic/gothic-oriented approach with an influx of clean/female singing, slower tempos and majestic stringed instruments, though much of the group's original black metal roots are still present. Song/lyrical topics also moved in a new direction, particularly with topics about vampires/vampirism. This has led to a strong backlash from fans and critics.
Track listing
Music as indicated. All lyrics by Kaiaphas except 6–9 by Thorne and 14 by King Diamond.
"Malkavian Twilight" - 00:39 (Aphazel) "A Mad Blood Scenario" - 04:23 (Aphazel, Kaiaphas) "The Draining" - 05:26 (Aphazel) "Um Sonho Psycodelico" - 04:01 (Aphazel) "Sleeping Princess of the Arges" - 06:32 (Jesus Christ!) "Her Northern Majesty" - 05:51 (Aphazel) "Blackeyes" - 07:21 (Jesus Christ!) "The Emerald Tablet" - 07:14 (Aphazel) "Willothewisp" - 07:22 (Jesus Christ!) "Neptune" - 02:37 (Aphazel) "5" - 04:10 (Kaiaphas) "Hecate, My Love and Lust" - 06:04 (Aphazel) "Vampirize Natasha" - 02:34 (Aphazel, Jesus Christ!, & Kaiaphas) "Black Funeral" (Mercyful Fate cover) - 02:50 (Hank Shermann)
Kaiaphas wrote lyrics for the song Sleeping Princess of the Arges in 1994 for his then-band Grand Belial's Key. GBK's version has a different music and can be found on the demo Triumph of the Hordes.
Credits
Aphazel - Guitars / Bass / Keyboards Lord Kaiaphas - Vocals / Drums / Percussion Jesus Christ! - Guitars / Bass / Keyboards / Cello / Piano Erichte - Female Vocals Produced by Aphazel Engineered by Doug Johnston
References