Upon first listen through Bleed’s upcoming self-titled debut LP our immediate reaction was that the band took the aesthetic of Around The Fur and built a modern offering out of that with a focus on songs like the title track and “Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)” as the blueprint. And on that note, if you took the dynamic riffage of both Helmet’s Betty and Quicksand’s Slip, combined it with the raw energy and primal percussive power of Deftones’ Adrenaline as well and the higher vocal register found on Handsome’s lone masterpiece then you kind of have a feel for Bleed going in.
Lead single “Marathon” serendipitously arrived on our desk in the same week we were still deciding whether or not to check out Deftones at TD Garden (We did not) and ahead of seeing Quicksand and Helmet back-to-back even (Which we did go to). Diving back in closer to release, the Nu-Metal tendencies are definitely more present but again with a rawness and earnestness found on the earliest work of many of the bands of that era. Korn’s wall of sound comes to mind as does Incubus’ S.C.I.E.N.C.E. with the use of turntables/programming on Bleed.
Anyway! Bleed’s their own thing and for those who didn’t live through it the ten tracks here represent a refreshing new sound. Hell, we lived through it and think Bleed brings a fresh take across the album. “Climbing Down” starts things off amidst a flurry of guitars from Noah Boyce, Ryan Hughes, and Rubio N. who also provides the kickass programming (With Shannon Connor record scratching throughout the album) to bring that Old School energy to a modern anthem before “Fixate” down tunes those riffs for an all out shredder with Carson Wilcox’s propulsive drumming and Hughes’ broad vocal passages stealing the show.
“Through The Cylinder” encapsulates all those middle of the album anthems that weren’t necessarily singles yet are huge crowd/fan favorites and “KIlling Time” just rips with Adam Ackerman’s low end rounding out the riff-splosion as Hughes’ voice practically floats on top. The aforementioned “Marathon” is like a revelation midway through the album with massive verses and choruses fusing with the vibrant instrumental backdrop before “Cynical” comes barreling in with shrieking guitar lines and the Ackerman/Wilcox rhythm machine guiding the way through tempo changes and more.
Olli Appleyard of Static Dress shows up for “Enjoy Your Stay” which is another in a steady stream of bangers with “Slip” keeping the momentum flowing as Wilcox’s intricate bashing plays nicely off the Hughes/Boyce guitar attack. Want something completely different? Then “Shallow” is for you! Quieter but no less intense, “Shallow” is driven by beats and atmosphere that just exude COOL as the guitars head to the backburner slightly only coming out to play to accentuate the soundscape. Back to the Heavy, “Take It Out” is a churning, chugging beastie that brings listeners back to reality on a grounded grinder to close out the show.
Bleed lands on May 2nd through 20 Buck Spin with pre-order options up now and available to peruse and/or purchase by heading here or to the stream below. For more from Bleed, including where to catch them on the road, hop on the information superhighway and make sure to make stops here or here.