Album review by Lucas Bell
After six months of dropping some absolutely incredible singles, Ohio based “insert genre here” powerhouse Bilmuri has finally dropped their first record in two years, ‘AMERICAN MOTOR SPORTS’. How do I even try to describe this band to a first time listener? I’m going to try my hardest.
The man behind Bilmuri, Johnny Franck, was formerly the clean vocalist and rhythm guitarist of crabcore iconics, Attack Attack! with Caleb Shomo (Beartooth) and Austin Carlie (ex Of Mice & Men). Franck left the band in 2010 to “focus on his relationship with God”. After a brief stint in another band called The March Ahead, Bilmuri was born. Over the next eight years, Franck would use the project to blend a mix of metalcore, pop, rock, and electronic music, to create such a unique sound that draws companions to no one. And with the release of ‘AMERICAN MOTOR SPORTS’, we can add another genre to that insane list. Country.
This many mixes of genres should not work. But Franck finds a way to blend it into something truly incredible. The album opens with what I would consider my favorite song in the record, ‘BETTER HELL (Thicc Boi). When this song dropped in January, it’s all I listened to for about 2 months. This is THE song I pick to show people exactly what Bilmuri is. The mandolin solo during the bridge is a brilliantly subtle reminder that yes, this is Johnny Franck, the country musician.
‘EMPTYHANDED’ immediately opens with balls to the wall guitars before dropping heavy into a country metal song. The song features Dylan Marlowe, which if you forgot this was country song, this verse will slap you clean in the face to remind you. Whenever I listen to this song, I can’t help but sing his part in his country twang. Also, Bilmuri’s sample game remains on point with the Kevin James NASCAR quote.
‘MISS ME’ is a big throwback acoustic driven track, reminding us the old Bilmuri still beats inside Franck. ‘SPINNING YOU AROUND’ continues that trend, with the blending of metalcore riffs and a big chorus that’s infectious to sing along to, something that’s a staple of Bilmuri’s catalogue. ‘2016 CAVALIERS (Ohio)’ is probably my least favorite song on the record, but by no stretch is it bad. I’ll always welcome a Knox feature, who featured on my favorite song on the 2022 record, ‘GOBLIN HOURS’.
The back half of the record is all hits though. ‘ALL GAS’ was a song I wasn’t expecting on the record, as the song is over a year old. It’s an absolute tune, but getting ‘ALL GAS’ without getting ‘BOUTTA CASHEW’ on the record is a crime. ‘BLINDSIDED’ was another one of the singles that dropped in the six months build to the record, and has probably the funniest music video of the bunch. Which says a lot because the video for ‘BETTER HELL’ is just Franck riding a lawn mower and staring at the camera for 3 minutes.
‘STRAIGHT THROUGH YOU’ is the big sexy pop ballad of the record, featuring pop rockers A R I Z O N A, who famously, are not from Arizona, but from New Jersey. The saxophone on this song absolutely rips. ‘TALKIN’ 2 UR GHOST’ is the song I definitely was finger drumming the most to after hearing it a couple of times. If you want to see the seamless blend of genres Bilmuri is capable of, this is the track for you. ‘DRUNK ENOUGH’ closes the record off in a very solemn way, with a song about heartbreak being akin to getting drunk. A beautiful song to finish an incredible album.
‘AMERICAN MOTOR SPORTS’ definitely is an album that’s not for everyone. And that’s fine. But for those that enjoy variety in their music, this becomes a must listen record.
Rating – 9.5/10
Favorite tracks
‘BETTER HELL (Thicc Boi)’
‘EMPTYHANDED’ feat. Dylan Marlowe
‘STRAIGHT THROUGH YOU’ feat A R I Z O N A
