When it comes to Orange County band, Bleed the Sky, I'll confess I didn't know them going into their new album. I was quickly by how tight their sound was and did a bit of research. Quick rundown, Bleed the Sky formed in December, 2002, and self released a demo. After signing with Nuclear Blast Records, they released two LPS.
Two changes to the lineup and years (about 12) after their last release, Bleed the Sky released This Way Lies Madness on January 17th, 2020, and are currently on a revival tour supporting the new record with Skinlab, Arise in Chaos and So This is Suffering. File sharing played a huge part in the writing process for This Way as the members live in different states (California, Oregon and Oklahoma), and although the traditional studio setting was not present, the record hardly seems to lack the polish of a professional recording. Another note is that the members spent 10 years on this album, which if I had been a fan before I'd have been quite worried the new material might never see the light of day, or it may not be any good.
You can rest easy, as the album IS good. A solid metalcore offering start to finish. I've gone back and listened to their earlier releases, and while the sound has changed (different lineup probably having an impact) old fans and new listeners alike should enjoy This Way. Track one, Tongue Louse, opens with a fucking killer sound that instantly takes me back to 2004 when I personally got my first taste for what I found out later was metalcore on an album called The Changing of Times from the band Underoath. Vocalist Noah Robertson has been with the band since they first formed in 2002, and his tortured screams sound as hellish as they ever did if not better with years of honing his skills.
You can hear some of the differences in the two videos below, with Serpent being the first single released for the album, and Minion being more than 10 years old now!
After repeated listening, not just for this review but because I genuinely wanted to, this reviewer can whole heartedly recommend This Way Lies Madness as a great pickup for any metalhead out there, especially if you grew up back in the older metalcore scene circa 2001-2009. Bleed the Sky will fit right in with my Parkway Drive, Poison the Well and Norma Jean albums.
If you liked what you heard, be sure to check out This Way Lies Madness on streaming platforms, and pick up a physical copy through Art is War records!
Comments