Kev Rowland
Bleed From Within’s 2009 debut album ‘Humanity’ made the Glaswegians a great many friends, and it was followed up with ‘Empire’ just a year later but the impression was that here was a band that could do even more, so is this it? Well, the third album has been a while in the waiting given how quickly they started to make a mark for themselves, but this was always about taking it to the next level. Produced by the band themeselves alongside renowned studio maestros Martyn ‘Ginge’ Ford (Bullet For My Valentine/Trivium/As I Lay Dying), Adam ‘Nolly’ Getgood (of US tech-metal crew Periphery) and Romesh Dodangoda (Funeral For A Friend/Sylosis) as well as mixed and mastered by ex-Machine Head guitarist Logan Mader (Gojira/Devildriver/Fear Factory), this is brutal stuff.
There is a real groove within the brutality, and it is obvious that Lamb of God have been required listening, and the band have delivered a monstrous slab of metal that sounds better and better the louder it is played. This is their first album for Century Media and with the label behind them the outlook is looking very good indeed. The aim now is to get this music out in front of people by touring and playing anywhere and everywhere, and given the number of infectious hooks and riffs contained within those who catch them live are in for a treat. If you want ballads and compromise then go elsewhere but if you want balls to the wall metal then here it is.