“We all suffer the same, we all suffer the pain“
The UK has a fair share of its metalcore bands. From the more established ones like Architects to the fresh bands on the block like Static Dress, the UK core scene has never been more prominent. With such a massive scene, there are bound to be some underrated gems. Bleed From Within is one such band. Slowly rising up in the ranks since 2005, they have amassed quite a bit of popularity since. However, it is by no means enough owing to their newest heavy hitting package, Shrine. Sonically and creatively a major step up from their 2020 album, Fracture; Shrine offers some of the best melodic metalcore to come out of the UK and even Europe.
It feels fresh and varied throughout owing to some inspired experimentation on the bands’ part. Peppered with beautiful strings, violins and orchestral elements, making every song stand out in their own way across Shrine. “Levitate” stands out in its violin driven melody infused with the band’s melodic riffage. Spoken word driven opener and closer “I Am Damnation” and “Paradise” are some of the best songs from the band’s discography. They also add a fine little touch to the more gang-vocal driven choruses and provide a fine change of pace. With strings peppered throughout, Bleed From Within reach new heights that make me wonder if this was the Architects album I wanted last year. It has everything you’d want from a metal album; breakdowns, blast beats, clean and unclean vocals and more. All of those interwoven adeptly into a blissful sounding album.
While the mix on Fracture felt a bit mellow, almost as if drowning out some of the energy the band clearly possesses, Shrine has a more punchy mix that elevates the already potent, anthemic sound of the band. Add in the layering of the vocals done by vocalist Scott Kennedy and guitarist Steven Jones at times, with the former’s guttural vocals and the latter’s cleans, it creates a unique wall of vocals that brings an angsty energy to them. Add in the crunchy riffs by Craig Gowans and Davie Proven, you have the perfect formula for a banger. I always found the drums to be rather muted on previous releases, however, here, the mixing makes them stand out to display some of drummer Ali Richardson’s best work.
Going deeper down the rabbit hole of melodic soundscapes, Shrine shines with exemplary use of strings and a characteristic mixing of dual vocals. Featuring fun riffs, the band deserves more recognition and are set to headline major festivals with their newest material. Easily their best work so far, Shrine will be well worth giving your time to when it releases this Friday.
8.5/10
Shrine is out this Friday via Nuclear Blast and you can pre-order it here.