Ancient "Mad Grandiose Bloodfiends (Digipak, Germany, Metal Blade Records, 3984-14143-2)"

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.

1. "Malkavian Twilight" - 00:39 (Aphazel)
2. "A Mad Blood Scenario" - 04:23 (Aphazel, Kaiaphas)
3. "The Draining" - 05:26 (Aphazel)
4. "Um Sonho Psycodelico" - 04:01 (Aphazel)
5. "Sleeping Princess of the Arges" - 06:32 (Jesus Christ!)
6. "Her Northern Majesty" - 05:51 (Aphazel)
7. "Blackeyes" - 07:21 (Jesus Christ!)
8. "The Emerald Tablet" - 07:14 (Aphazel)
9. "Willothewisp" - 07:22 (Jesus Christ!)
10. "Neptune" - 02:37 (Aphazel)
11. "5" - 04:10 (Kaiaphas)
12. "Hecate, My Love and Lust" - 06:04 (Aphazel)
13. "Vampirize Natasha" - 02:34 (Aphazel, Jesus Christ!, & Kaiaphas)
14. "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.

"Um Sonho Psycodelico" is (misspelt) Portuguese for "A Psychedelic Dream".

Japanese version has a bonus track: "Morte Al Potere" (05:09), a cover song of Italian progressive rock band Antonius Rex. This track is also available on the Metal Blade Records' compilation "Deathmeister Volume 1", released in 1998.

Lead vocals on this song by Erichte.

Recording information:

Recorded, mixed & mastered at Cue Recording Studios, Falls Church, VA, USA, during September 1997.