Album review by Lucas Bell
As a fan of metalcore and melodic death metal (specifically the European kind), Bleeding Through was a band that I always thought broke the mold of what it was to be an American metalcore act. Blending these two styles, while incorporating blackened, and almost symphonic elements at times, made the band stand apart from their peers. Lots of bands sound like Killswitch Engage, Parkway Drive, and Eighteen Visions. No one else sounds like Bleeding Through.
I’ve been a fan of these guys for years. I owned This Is Love, This Is Murderous and Declaration on CD. I owned the Wolves Among Sheep DVD. I even caught them at Soundwave 2008. My love for this band used to run deep. But around 2010, I fell out of love with Bleeding Through. I developed a deeper love for more progressive metal and rock, and metalcore to a degree fell by the wayside. I heard a lot of hype around this record, so curiousity got the better of me. I have listened to everything post Declaration, and nothing during that time caught my ear. But with Nine, I gotta say. Bleeding Through are back, in a big fucking way.
SONG BREAKDOWNS
Gallows – ‘Gallows’ feels like a statement track out of the gate. The band’s first record in 7 years needed to be huge. I like the song, but not as an album opener. It blends the metalcore, blackens it, and gives it a gothic coat of paint not really seen in the bands previous works. Like I said, banging tune. Not for the first track though.
Our Brand Is Chaos – Now, this should have been the album opener. The intro riffs are *chefs kiss*. And that opening lyric of “Fuck with us and find out” slams. For fans of the band from the mid 2000s, this is the style and quality of song we all wanted them to get back to. One of the best songs on the record.
Dead But So Alive – This is the vocal powerhouse song of the record. We have brees and bleghs all over it, but also some of the best cleans on the record, and it’s so good. The drumming in particular is another stand out on this record, and it’s on full display here.
Hail Destruction – Definitely one of the heavier tracks, this one leans heavily into slower, almost blackened metalcore, with heavy synth work throughout, bolstered with a pretty guitar riff throughout. There is a duality to it that’s beautiful and scary at the same time. And the solo. Good God. 10/10.
Lost in Isolation – The song is the first song on the record to have a feature, and I was absolutely delighted to see it was New Jersey metalcore act, God Forbid. These guys broke up in 2013, and have reunited and have performed sporadically since 2022. So seeing them make new music, even as a feature, puts hope in that we could see a return to the studio for them in the future.
Last Breath – This track, clocking in at under two minutes, serves less as an intro to ‘Path of Our Disease’, but feels like it breaks the record up a bit. A beautiful piece of music.
Path of Our Disease – This track takes the best parts of 90s Swedish Melodic Death Metal, and gives it the Bleeding Through shine. At times, I could have thought this was something from the early catalog of In Flames or Dark Tranquility. But the moment Marta Demmel’s cleans kick in, I’m reminded this isn’t 90s Melodic Death Metal. Another awesome track.
I Am Resistance – The second of three tracks to feature a feature, this track shows off a band who I’ve always considered a bit underrated, Comeback Kid. The duality of both bands on the track is probably the best of the three features. The chorus is huge, and could be crazy fun live.
Emery – The slow build intro into probably the most slowed down gothic-synth soaked track make this a definite highlight for those that don’t want fast all the time. Another track I really like, that shows Bleeding Through are more than fast riffs and slamming breakdowns.
War Time – The song is bolstered with a feature from one of the greatest metalcore bands to ever do it, Shadows Fall. The track slams. Another example of the clean vocals shining, and the breakdown in this track is the best on the record.
Unholy Armada – While I was a bit more critical on what track should have opened the record, this was a brilliant pick for an album closer. The last minute of this track is probably my favorite 60 seconds on the record. Incredible way to close out the band’s return to form.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you’re like me, and fell off the Bleeding Through wagon, this is the album to pull you back in. There is enough variety in here that I feel it doesn’t matter what era of the band is your favorite. You will find something on this record for you.
Rating – 9.3/10
Highlights – Our Brand is Chaos, Lost in Isolation, War Time
