BLOODY DICE – Bloody Dice ”2” [Eonian Records] (2025) *HQ*

320_1 /// 320_2 /// HQ

A couple of years ago we were surprised by a new Eonian Records signing; BLOODY DICE, kick ass 4-piece from Denmark, which self-titled album rocked us with catchy riffs and feel-good melodies. The vision of this band is to play rock n’ roll music the same way they want to hear music – with dynamics and “swing.” The mission is to bring back, and to emphasize simplicity and honest expression of hard rock.
Now BLOODY DICE is back with sophomore album ”2”. Firstly, original drummer Peter Larsen is back, and so is a sound that’s a little more raw. But it would be fair to say that Bloody Dice ”2” also has a legend involved. Flemming Rasmussen—who almost defined thrash with his work with Metallica in the ’80s—is here, making this CD sound like a million dollars.
But ”none of this matters”, of course, if the music is no good—and that’s not the case here. The start of “Cry For War”—all bass groove and confidence—is arena rock for 2025. But it’s arena rock with a social conscience; it looks at the world and doesn’t like what it sees. The same is true of “Maze”, which takes aim at the “Department of Bureaucratic Bullshit and Social Indifference”, but these are also superb rocking songs.

“Break the Cycle” slows the pace and dials up both the blues and the menace. It also needs saying that singer Dagfinn Joensen and guitarist Nickie Jensen are perfect for this.
That applies to the chugging hard rock of “The Bitch Is Crazy”—the type of thing the 14-year-old me was listening to in 1989 and still loves more than he should. “Madness” is another that has that vibe—and a proper ’80s solo—but talks about mental health issues candidly. And maybe that’s the thing: strip away the layers and this is so much more.
The tough “Back to Hell” has a kind of Motörhead aggression, but despairs. Even the swaggering ones like “Unspoken” implore you to “fight for what is right”.

“Struggling to Breathe” almost demands you get fists in the air as it menaces, but the hooks—like everywhere on this brilliant record—shine. The slide guitar of “Don’t Know Where We’re Going” initially seems like it might take things in a southern rock direction, but the vocals are more Soundgarden as it bemoans media manipulation.
“Face the Truth” hasn’t got any happy endings either, and you’d best heed its call to “open your eyes”.

Bloody Dice ”2” is an album that everyone involved clearly wants to succeed. It deserves to. Bloody Dice have rolled a real double six, and there’s no reason to think you won’t be hearing a lot more from them in the future.
Highly Recommended

01 – Cry for War
02 – Maze
03 – Break the Circle
04 – The Bitch is Crazy
05 – Madness
06 – Back to Hell
07 – Unspoken
08 – Struggling to Breathe
09 – Don’t Know Where We’re Going
10 – Face the Truth

Dagfinn Joensen – Vocals, Acoustic Guitars, & Percussion
Nickie Jensen – Guitars
Jakob Haugaard – Bass
Peter Larsen – Drums

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www.eonianrecords.com/bloody-dice