“Lemme talk my shit.”
Do you remember the mid to late 2010s? Zegema Beach Records starts releasing music from a brand new, sassy metalcore band called SeeYouSpaceCowboy, Pure Noise Records is promoting Sanction’s brand new The Infringement of God’s Plan. There’s a fresh split from up-and-comers Vein and .gif from god. They all have a sound that’s familiar, but still very unique to each of them. All of these bands are being put under the umbrella term of metalcore revival, and Facebook groups were using their cassette tapes as if they were gold. With all of this going on, we also had a little EP named Justified Murder to put a special bow on the beginning of a blossoming subgenre.
Starting in Florida and now residing in California, metalcore revival legends Bloodbather formed in 2016, right at the genesis of it all. If you were into metalcore at all, you knew Consequence or The Final Request. With the instant success of Justified Murder and Pressure, their unique blend of metallic hardcore (and later an industrial edge thanks to the touch of musical genius Salem Vex) was the cream of the crop, and people knew it. The cassette tapes for those two releases, especially Justified Murder, were what everyone wanted in places like Metal and Core Collectors. The band just kept getting better, which led to them getting signed to the legendary Rise Records. While original vocalist Jeffrey Georges left in 2020 and went to form Fallen God and AI Death Calculator, the band went on to release Silence and some standalone singles with former member of A Needle Under the Nail member Kyler Millo. The band originally broke up in 2023, but now, Vex has thankfully blessed us with one final hurrah in the form of Bloodbather’s final album.
While Millo was a good vocalist, and the songs during that time were great, Bloodbather truly started to peak again with Vex at the wheel with As You Die. While we didn’t get anything from the band before they broke up, we were always wanting more. What would the next release from the band sound like after it seemed like they had finally perfected what they wanted to write? Could the band ever reach the height of Pressure and Justified Murder? Vex has seen these questions, and ANAYNGSTTA is the answer. This is Bloodbather at their absolute peak. Completely written and produced by Vex, this is everything that you will want from the band. Truly, this is the best the band has ever sounded.
Do you want the heaviest breakdowns Bloodbather has ever done? Do you want ANOTHER re-recording of Consequence, as is tradition? Do you want clean vocals? Do you want an old school rap track? ANAYNGSTTA has you covered on all fronts. As the title suggests, Vex literally wants to give you something to talk about with this album. He knows what you want, and he’s given it to you. And believe me, you will absolutely be talking. Every single part of this album is Bloodbather turned up to 11. Songs like the title track are possibly the heaviest thing this band has ever done. But something like that is to be expected (but extremely welcomed) from a Bloodbather album, right? Luckily, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
You may have noticed with Bloodbather‘s earlier material that there was some 90s influence buried within the music. “Closed Curtains, Closed Caskets” is the epitome of this, but the absolute opposite of what you were expecting. This track is absolutely DRIPPING with the class of 90s rappers. Serving almost as a storytelling of the life of Vex, and the rise and fall of Bloodbather, the track truly is a defining statement for the band. It’s Vex saying fuck you to everyone against him. Vex is going to talk his shit, and there’s nothing you can do about it, because he built everything he had from the ground up. The track sticks out like a sore thumb, as it should. But it’s still Bloodbather at heart. It’s fun, but also still cutthroat. This track is the entire point of the whole record. It’s Vex’s world, we’re just living in it while he does what he needs to do.
Now, we’d be doing a disservice if we didn’t mention the band’s title track, Bloodbather. Just as much as “Closed Curtains, Closed Caskets“, this track is drawing a line in the sand with the title alone. This is Bloodbather, whether we like it or not. Featuring vocals from Damien Douleur of Vex’s post-hardcore project The Requiem, this is the band at their old school sound while still progressing. This song is slow, in the best way. Bloodbather takes its time, in all its doomy glory. Douleur‘s vocals absolutely shine here as well, but don’t be mistaken, this is not a Requiem track. This is very much the band we know and love, encapsulated into a three and a half minute track.
Now, of course, if Vex addresses it throughout the album, we should address it too. People are certainly going to find something to complain about throughout ANAYNGSTTA. Let’s be honest with ourselves, it’s the nature of the beast with every band and genre. As boresome as it can be, it’s still something that is going to happen, whether with critics or fans. This album will certainly be the same. “Why is there rap on my metalcore album?” “Why do we have people singing?” “What is up with those lyrics?” And the truth of the matter is, who cares?! Everything here is great, and if you have a problem with it, it’s not for you. It will find its people, and Vex knows it. Everything here is just fun, ass-beater music. Why bother looking more into it than what it is? So go ahead and complain about it, it’s only a good chunk of the message of the whole album.
At the end of the day, this is Bloodbather fully evolved. You still have your panic chords and breakdowns in classic Bloodbather fashion, everything else is just completely evolved. ANAYNGSTTA is unforgivably and unapologetically Vex. From the screams to the intent, to even the stunning and powerful production, this is Vex sending a message. This album has something important to say, while also being a redemption for the falling apart of the band previously. It’s both a love letter and a eulogy to Bloodbather as a whole. This isn’t Crucifiction, this isn’t The Requiem, this isn’t just another metalcore revival. This is an album for the culture. It’s Vex and Bloodbather, and it’s given us all something to talk about.
9/10
ANAYNGSTTA releases April 24th on all streaming platforms, with limited pre-orders available through Wax Vessel.
