Record Label: Century Media
Release Date: 29.05.2020
For Fans Of: Bury Tomorrow, Parkway Drive, While She Sleeps
After putting the band on hold for the best part of five years, in 2018 Bleed From Within roared back into life with Era. Arguably an even better record than 2013’s Uprising, it rewarded long-standing fans for their patience and introduced the band to a whole new wave of metalheads who missed out first time round. Now, just two years later, the Glaswegians are making up for lost time and are seeking to carry on that momentum with their fifth studio album, Fracture. During the time that Bleed From Within were away, metalcore saw a bit of a shift, with the likes of Architects, While She Sleeps and Parkway Drive becoming break-out stars, with each finding the room to explore and carving out their own niche. The Scots have clearly noticed this success and decided they want in, because Fracture sounds and feels absolutely huge.
The technical sheen that the band have always had is still very much present, especially in the intricate riffing and shifting time signatures found on the likes of ‘Night Crossing’ and ‘The End of All We Know’. Where tech-metal sometimes falls down is the lack of bite or having anything to offer other than that technicality, and Bleed From Within avoid that problem entirely as these tracks always feel like they are building to something, whether that’s a massive shout-along chorus, or a soaring lead line. ‘Into Nothing’ has a Pantera style groove that will have you stomping around your living room pulling your best metal gurn, and although it’s much overused nowadays there’s something so immensely satisfying about a vocalist shouting ‘GO!’ before launching into a guitar solo.
It’s clear how much the band are trying to push themselves here. There’s obviously the inclusion of the string section of ‘Ascend’ and all the grandeur that’s added to the track because of it, but there are also subtler signs that show Bleed From Within trying new ideas. The title track definitely seems to borrow from moments on Parkway Drive’s Reverence as Scott Kennedy’s growls take centre stage amidst a slow and steady build before the inevitable breakdown. This becomes even more apparent on closer ‘A Depth That No One Dares’ which shows a much more progressive side, giving each instrument the time and space to be showcased and even finds the room to squeeze in some blasts as the band momentarily pay tribute to Anaal Nathrakh.
While Fracture doesn’t exactly push any boundaries within metalcore, it does push the band’s own boundaries. Bringing in loads of different elements can sometimes feel like it’s diluting a band’s sound, but there is never a moment where this record doesn’t still feel like Bleed From Within. Even more than this, all these elements just work so well together to create a tight, taut record that has enough hooks to grab you immediately yet still leaves plenty to savour with repeated listens. Era might have been the comeback record, but Fracture sees Bleed From Within reassert themselves at the top table of British metalcore.
Rating: 8/10
Recommended Tracks: Night Crossing, The End of All We Know, A Depth That No One Dares