After jumping out of the starting block with enviable speed and agility, and to widespread critical acclaim, Brazilian death metal titans Krisiun have suffered some tough setbacks at the hands of the same press as it gradually lost interest in the band's assault of almost unparalleled but increasingly one-dimensional fury.

It was into this ongoing state of uncertainty that the band unleashed the stop-gap release Bloodshed -- a not-quite full-length album nevertheless offering eight new compositions (three of them moody instrumental intros and outros) and, of greatest interest, the four cuts originally featured on the trio's seminal first E.P.

from 1993, Unmerciful Order.

Clearly, it's this unearthed early material (brilliantly brutal and bordering on essential) that will have most die-hard fans flocking to record stores with bated breath, but there's also plenty recommending the band's new offerings which -- surprise, surprise -- happen to show Krisiun avoiding exclusively hyper-speed rhythms, as requested by those critics and some fans alike.

Whether this is a matter of intention or coincidence, the fact is tracks like "Slain Fate," "Ominous" and "Visions Beyond" all do well to mix slower, groove-derived guitar riffs into the band's typical rapid-fire attack, losing nothing in the way of overall heaviness in the process.

And, when placed alongside such excellent historical company, Bloodshed's humble stop-gap intentions may well serve as a much needed redirection and well-timed transition for Krisiun to re-ignite their career.