Written by: The Administrator
Wait, what's this? Catchy-as-fuck early 00's melodic alt/nu-metal nostalgia...released by the venerable 20 Buck Spin? On the basis of genre alone, I still think this is a weird addition to the roster, but on the basis of quality, Bleed's Bleed absolutely fits the 20BS mold. In my mind, Bleed combines the best of Pulkas-esque angsty aggression and Linkin Park's penchant for absurdly earwormy hooks before filtering 'em through dreamy Deftones textures. But listen to a track or two and you'll inevitably pull your own comparisons. At the end of the day, this is an album that simultaneously feels like an homage and an attempt to modernize a sound that is all to easy to write off as "throwback." The vibe is airy yet moody. Hazy and shimmering. The grooves are as engaging as you might hope, but the project is often defined by atmosphere--it frequently feels like said groove is obscured by gazey gossamer. The true star of the Bleed formula? The vocal melodies, which are wonderfully entrancing, hypnotic, and--dare I say--borderline psychedelic. A potential drawback to this style is that some songs do feel quite comparable from a vocal perspective. That said, as a huge fan of what Ryan Hughes is doing here with his ethereal delivery, I personally find the similar vibe from track to track endearing. The album makes for a very cohesive listen. Nostalgia inevitably plays a not-insignificant role in one's enjoyment of Bleed, but after many, many, many listens, I am firmly of the mind that the songs contained herein slap not because they feel old, but rather because they are great songs loaded with killer hooks. Case closed. I would have enjoyed this album if were released in 2000, but I positively love it in 2025. Badass stuff through and through. If you're looking to sample, I HIGHLY recommend checking out "Through the Cylinder," which is my favorite track off the album and easily one of my most-listened tracks of the year. Bleed - Bleed was released May 2nd, 2025 via 20 Buck Spin. Find it on Bandcamp here!
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Written by: The Administrator
Whomst among us is ambivalent about the ocean? I may be way off the mark, but it seems as though opinions towards the deep blue sea trend towards the extremes. Representing a certain landlubbery perspective, several of my fellow inksplattered scribes experience an abject terror when it comes to the ocean's vastness. As for me, I'm smitten by the serene chaos of breakers, the lushness and oddity of aquatic life, and the eventual call of the sodden void. Representing perhaps the pinnacle of oceanic fandom, Into The Deep demonstrates a deep fascination and reverence for the ocean. This is a fact that is immediately apparent--everything from their moniker to their artwork to their track titles and band bio and beyond reeks of brine. I absolutely love a band with a singular focus, and when they play music this good, I can't help but sing their praises. Blackfin came out Jan. 3rd, and I haven't stopped listening yet. It is my favorite EP of 2024 thusfar. |
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