“I’m afraid of the years starting to blur, afraid of forgetting who we were.”
In the past one year, Bloom has picked up an impressive pace, and their momentum is nowhere near slowing down. The Sydney melodic hardcore unit have toured extensively since the release of their debut album last February. Amidst the busyness, the band have somehow managed to write and record their sophomore album. A few months shy of two years since their debut, they present The Light We Chase.
Normally, such a short lead time between albums would be a cause for concern, but Bloom is a band that I trust to pull this off. Initial single “Withered” put any potential worries to rest, landing with the rawness and honesty that Bloom does best. Working with Sam Bassal (Thornhill, Ocean Grove) on production, the melodic hardcore track hits with a new but welcome grittiness that keeps their usual sound fresh. There’s a cutting vulnerability in its lyrics, discussing the sacrifices of being in a band and the thought that it could all be in vain. Lead vocalist Jono Hawkey continues to deliver with emotional ferocity, and guitarists Oli Butler and Jarod McLaren deliver a weighty performance with an desperation and anger in the aggressive guitar work; emotions that permeate the intricate lead lines and hefty chugs.
Bloom’s lyrical themes have always seen them wearing their hearts on their sleeves. The Light We Chase continues with the same sincerity and honesty expressed on Maybe In Another Life. Where Maybe In Another Life was heavily focused on the weight of mental health struggles, The Light We Chase has a more nostalgic agenda. According to Hawkey, the album’s concept comes from a place of reminiscing, particularly the suburbs of Belrose where the band members went to school together. Fittingly, the album’s opener is named after said suburb, with lyrics longing for the glory of past days.
While primarily a melodic hardcore band, Bloom expanded beyond those confines on Maybe In Another Life, from softer, fully-sung rock ballads like “You And I” to atmospheric post-hardcore on “Fragments Of A Dream”. Late album cut “Tongue Tied” follows in the footsteps of “You And I”‘. The softer direction hardly feels contrived, with a beautifully melancholic atmosphere crafted as it laments a relationship falling apart. Mikaila Delgado of Yours Truly features on the song, and her vocals add a nice contrast while injecting emotion into the track. It does feel like a nice full circle moment seeing as Hawkey featured on “Sinking” from Yours Truly’s record last year. Yet again, Bloom pulls off a softer, more accessible track in a way that feels intentional and purposeful, and I’m glad they chose to revisit the approach.
When it comes to their core sound, Bloom manages to deliver an impressive level of consistency. Early album track “Forget Me Not” hits the ground running with a suspenseful intro. Accompanying the guitars, bassist Andrew Martin lays down a meaty bassline that completes the soundscape. Drummer Jack Van Vliet comes in full swing with a pummeling melodic hardcore rhythm. There’s a certain air of regret as Hawkey laments words unsaid and the fading memories of a treasured place. The mid-track breakdown lands with cathartic release as it drops into a set of undeniably groovy chugs.
“Glen Street” mournfully reflects on the deterioration and collapse of a relationship. The track cycles through all the stages of grief, from spiteful wishing that the relationship had never happened to a bittersweet acceptance that the experience was still meaningful. The track matches this journey sonically, charging in with aggression and progressing into a wistful atmospheric section at the end.
The album sees itself at one of its heaviest points sonically with “Act II”. The track is charged with envy and resentment, revealing a desire to escape the shadow of a person. Its emotional climax finds itself as the end, with Jack Bergin of Void Of Vision joining forces with the band to deliver its decisive ending. It launches into a destructive breakdown worthy of the intense emotions on display. My personal highlight for the album’s emotional climax comes in the form of “Only Sky”. There’s a certain despondency that it carries that feels familiar to the songs on Maybe In Another Life. The wearisome feeling of hoping for change is conveyed in such a straightforward manner with Hawkey’s passionate delivery. A slow burn track, it opens up into a beautifully melancholic wall of post-rock textures. Bloom are definitely all-rounders in expressing emotion, and their ability to use multiple elements excellently to accomplish this is a testament to their talents.
As mentioned above, Bloom expresses a straightforward honesty with their lyrics, laced with cutting emotional impact. “Out Of Reach” confronts a reality that is often quite real to many, asking the question of what happens if all the dreams we chase lead nowhere. There’s a certain linear expectation we attach to progress, when the actual journey is often messy and unpredictable. The relatability offered on “Out Of Reach” is very much appreciated, and there’s something comforting in its stinging lyrics and gritty delivery. “Life Moves On Without Us” is described by Van Vliet as the title track of the album, characterized by a helpless resignation to the passage of time and the futility of chasing after it.
As a massive fan of both Bloom and Movements, it almost doesn’t feel real that “Keep You” features Patrick Miranda of the iconic Orange County rock band. The track bleeds with the nostalgia that envelops the entire album as it reminisces the past. The track sees Bloom at their most accessible with a straightforward alt rock sound that carries a warmth with its soundscapes. It’s an undeniably catchy track; an impressive display of range for a band that primarily plays a more aggressive style. Miranda’s unmistakable vocals add another level of charm, bringing Movements’ quality of memorable emotion to the track.
The album concludes with “Show Me Who I Am”. Blending elements of post-hardcore and melodic hardcore, the track feels like a natural culmination of all the styles explored on the album. There’s a theme of “if I did everything right, would everything really be okay?” that presents itself through the lyrics that I find myself appreciating a lot. There’s a parallel that I can draw with the “Through The Threshold, Beyond The Bend”, the closer of Maybe In Another Life. Both tracks express a similar frustration and feelings of being lost, especially when there was actually progress made. Its anthemic, soaring chorus helps to elevate the emotion of the track to a satisfying high. Where “Through The Threshold, Beyond The Bend” closed the album on a rather bleak note, Show Me Who I Am” feels more open-ended; still lost, but slightly closer to being found.
The feeling of loss and longing is a complicated one, one that is often hard to describe or put into words. Bloom have endeavoured to encapsulate that feeling with all they have at their disposal, and they have ultimately succeeded with “The Light We Chase”. There’s a sense of comfort in the chaos that the album brings as it touches on the many in-between moments of life. While its perhaps not very directly expressed in words, there’s a silver of hope that is felt even amidst the regret and the grief. The album pushes Bloom’s sonic extremes much more than before, yet it feels cohesive and united in purpose. Bloom’s sophomore album presents so much more of the band, from refining their core sound to expanding into different styles, all while still delivering the emotional impact of the album’s main themes. Bloom continue to hold their place as one of the most exciting acts in modern heavy music, and their unrelenting commitment to writing heartfelt music will take them so much further.
9/10
The Light We Chase releases on the 31st of October via Pure Noise Records. Pre-order and merch links for the album can be found here.