PORTRAIT · The Host | WHITE/BLACK MARBLED 2LP

White and black marbled double vinyl. Gatefold cover. Limited to 500 handnumbered copies.

Background information about 'The Host'

There are albums that simply demand your full attention, and then there is "The Host" – the latest full-length assault from Sweden's reigning kings of traditional heavy metal, Portrait. And make no mistake, this is not some half-hearted retro trip. This is a band operating at the absolute peak of their powers, channeling the spirit of the NWOBHM and early 80s Mercyful Fate into something that feels both timeless and utterly vital.

From the very first riff, "The Host" grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go. Vocalist Per Karlsson delivers a career-defining performance, switching between sinister whispers, soaring falsettos, and venomous snarls with an ease that borders on supernatural. The guitar duo of Christian Lindell and Fredrik Petersson weave intricate, dueling harmonies that recall the golden age of Downing and Tipton, while the rhythm section of Anders Persson (bass) and Andreas Holm (drums) locks in with a thunderous, almost ritualistic precision. Tracks like "The Sacrifice" and "Sword of the Sun" are instant classics – dripping with atmosphere, melody, and an undercurrent of darkness that feels genuinely menacing. This is heavy metal played with conviction, passion, and an absolute refusal to compromise.

For fans of:
Mercyful Fate, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Candlemass, Satan

Track listing

LP 1
A1 Hoc Est Corpus Meum (Intro)
A2 The Blood Covenant
A3 The Sacrament
A4 Oneiric Visions
A5 One Last Kiss
B1 Treachery
B2 Sound The Horn
B3 Dweller Of The Threshold
B4 Die In My Heart
LP 2
C1 Voice Of The Outsider
C2 From The Urn
C3 The Men Of Renown
C4 Sword Of Reason (The Steel Of Revenge)
D1 The Passions Of Sophia

Manufacturer: Metal Blade Records GmbH, Friedrichstr. 38, 73033 Göppingen, Germany, Contact: www.metalblade.com