UMUR
"Homicidal Therapy" is the second full-length studio album by Belgian death metal act Bleedskin. The album was independently released in September 2024. It´s the successor to "Blood Reign" from 2020. There have been a couple of lineup changes since the predecessor as only Céline Mazay (guitars, vocals) and Rémy Adam (bass, vocals) remain from the lineup who recorded the predecessor. New in the lineup is drummer/vocalist Logan Dykens, who completes the new trio lineup on "Homicidal Therapy".
Stylistically not much has changed since the debut album, as Bleedskin are still delivering technically well played US influenced death metal. Although they are not a US band, the Dutch in Sinister (who themselves have always been US death metal influenced) are probably the most valid reference. It´s relatively brutal death metal but in the old school fashion with ties to the late 80s brutal thrash metal scene. So Bleedskin are far from being another Suffocation clone, if the word brutal old school death metal should lead you to think that. A band like Deicide is probably a better old school US death metal reference (and to a lesser extent Cannibal Corpse).
Featuring 10 tracks and a total playing time of 30:44 minutes "Homicidal Therapy" is a relatively short release, but what it lacks in length it offers in effective quality death metal songwriting, strong and tight (yet still organic) musical performances, and a powerful, brutal, and raw sounding production, which perfectly suits the material. The snare drum has an odd sound, but personally I appreciate the way it sounds, as it adds a unique character to Bleedskin´s sound. So while Bleedskin won´t surprise you with anything you haven´t heard before on similar releases, they are the type of band who bring the goods. Power, passion, brutality... you get it all here and it´s delivered with the right amount of caustic aggression and conviction. A 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.