5th February 2021

Review: “Silence” by Bloodbather

A few years back the bands who had albums released via Rise Records had a signature sound and while that has been something broken with the likes of The Acacia Strain signing for the label, it still makes us raise an eyebrow when we hear that a band of the nature of Broward County California’s Bloodbather could be signed to them. But the quartet are and that remains a fact.

While the cover art may depict something you’d expect to see from a Death Metal act, Bloodbather have a Metallic Hardcore sound that is a throwback to the bands of the turn of the decade and has a lot in common with Vein, Great American Ghost and Vatican. Opening cut “God” is littered with jarring abrasive riffs and bi polar contrasting shrill screams and Deathcore gutturals that while not having the punch of a heavier guitar tone, is still as razor sharp as it gets. Title track “Silence” similarly separates flesh from bone with its mirror shattering vocals from frontman Kyler Millo, a new addition for this release who brings a whole new energy to the Bloodbather sound over their previous works. His shrill and piercing tones mimic the horror of the lyrics inked from the blood he has spilled, the horror-influenced aesthetic giving it that “did this actually happen?” vibe, given how vividly certain lyrics are painted. His energy and power are certainly welcome addition and should serve to lift the band to the next level as long as Millo doesn’t become anymore unhinged.

While there are no frills here, there are little pieces of cleverly constructed nuance that can’t go unnoticed. For example the synth part at the end of the brutally savage “Erase” which creates a moment of tranquility before the nauseating churning riffs of “Disappear” kick up the dust. Breakdowns are piled on breakdowns stacked up like gambling chips at a Casino tear through this one leaving no stone unturned as they hunt for satisfaction in quenching that bloodlust. Stalking tendencies are admitted to in “Void“, which echos the sentiment of anyone who has felt unnoticed for an extended period of time, low and lonely while being mildly obsessed. What it lacks is that something to set it apart from the other scathing cuts but with the aching icy industrial “Cold”, it seems that next time around Bloodbather will have something new to offer from the surrounding darkness [7.5/10]

Track listing