Bleed From Within – ‘Era’ (Album Review)
Lineup changes are often difficult to deal with – and having survived one recently, Bleed From Within are marking the end of an era with…well…Era.
“I Am Oblivion Part II sees Bleed From Within move into progressive territory without disappearing up their own asses”
As well as welcoming in brand new guitarist Steven Jones, Bleed From Within have spent the first portion of this album cycle pushing their own boundaries songwriting-wise. On Era, these guys manage to pull solid grooves, frantic riffs, and ear-catching guitar lines into an accessible set of tracks with a stronger focus on diversity and melodicism. The end result will doubtless be familiar to long-standing fans of metalcore and its related niches, but one track in particular stands out above the others.
I Am Oblivion Part II is, hopefully, a taster of Bleed From Within’s future creative direction. Channelling the likes of Slipknot and Between The Buried And Me into a track brimming with sludgy, filthy sections and plenty of dynamic variation, I Am Oblivion Part II sees Bleed From Within progress into more progressive territory without disappearing up their own asses. You don’t have to be wearing a cape and sparkly jumpsuit to enjoy that track; it might help, but to be honest I wouldn’t even try it within the privacy of my own home.
Overall, Era feels like a transitional album, the sound of a band testing the waters and finding solid ground beneath the waves. The past may be gone, but the future looks more promising than before for Bleed From Within.
LTK RATING: 83%
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Era drops April 6 – pre-order it on iTunes here.