By: Charlie Butler
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 15/01/2016
Label: Relapse Records
“Mesmerize” sets the tone for events to come. The band launch
straight into a rumbling, menacing riff, like Tool jamming with The Jesus
Lizard while Shellac look on approvingly. This track exemplifies what Bloodiest
do so well on this LP; relentless repetition of a phrase, letting it slowly
transform while building towards a furious climax. They manage to do this in a
fluid, hypnotic fashion, avoiding the pitfalls of obvious quiet/loud
dynamics. There is a lot of great, heavy
music around today, but it’s rare to hear something as fresh and compelling as
this LP. Bloodiest have crafted an incredible piece of work here, challenging
without being difficult and crushing without always resorting to amplification-overload.
“Bloodiest” CD//DD//LP track listing:
1).
Mesmerize
2).
The Widow
3).
Condition
4).
Broken Teeth
5).
Mind Overlaps
6).
He Is Disease
7).
Separation
8).
Suffer
The Review:
“Supergroups” inspire high
expectations. In the case of Bloodiest’s new
self-titled LP these preconceptions are met and then some. The Chicago band
features current and former members of a diverse array of awesome acts such as Yakuza, Russian Circles, Minsk and 90 Day Men. As well as
sounding like a perfectly proportioned mix of these other projects, the
brilliance of this album eclipses all their previous work.
The record begins with the aptly titled “Mesmerize”, setting the tone for events
to come. The band launch straight into a rumbling, menacing riff, like Tool jamming with The Jesus Lizard while Shellac look on approvingly. This track exemplifies what Bloodiest do so well on this LP; relentless repetition of a
phrase, letting it slowly transform while building towards a furious climax.
They manage to do this in a fluid, hypnotic fashion, avoiding the pitfalls of
obvious quiet/loud dynamics.
Tracks like “Broken Teeth” and “He Is
Disease” hit a perfect middle ground between weighty, metal attack and
jagged, noise-rock angularity. The latter is the heaviest number here, melding
huge Melvins riffs to the widescreen ambition of Swans with restless math-rock touches creeping in as time
progresses.
The highlight of the album comes when Bloodiest venture furthest from the realms of metal. “The Widow” begins with a minimal bass
and drums throb, soon joined by eerie acoustic guitar and piano. The track then
slowly unfurls over its 8-minute duration as an epic, brooding slow-burn. Bruce
Lamont’s vocals are strong throughout the album but they really come into their
own here, his half-spoken croon, heightening the drama. The overall effect is
like Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds taking on the
gothic darkness of Oxbow’s “Serenade in Red”.
There is a lot of great, heavy music around
today, but it’s rare to hear something as fresh and compelling as this LP. Bloodiest have crafted an incredible piece of work here,
challenging without being difficult and crushing without always resorting to
amplification-overload.
“Bloodiest”
is available here
