EP REVIEW: In Passing – Bloom

For centuries, some of the best art has come from places of pain. From Vincent Van Gogh to Kurt Cobain, there’s always been something mesmerising about artistic expressions of sorrow and sadness. In Passing, the second EP from Sydney-based melodic hardcore band Bloom, is another such expression. Written after the death of vocalist Jono Hawkey‘s grandfather, it’s an exploration of grief, loss and anxiety. The result is a powerful, emotional 16 minutes which may well move its listeners to tears.

Hawkey is without a doubt the standout performer on In Passing. His heartfelt, personal lyrics are a particular highlight. As well as exploring his own grief, he details the impact of his grandfather’s passing on his mother to devastating effect. He also shows a deeply reflective, self-aware side. Second track The Boat And The Stream sees Hawkey ask himself: “How well must you know someone to be upset by their passing?” and “Am I forcing this sadness for a reason to write?” Next track Daylight is an heart-wrenching look at the fear of never knowing when you might share your last moments with someone, with lyrics like “Is this our final embrace, the last time I see your face?”

Hawkey’s lyrical explorations are well matched by the band’s music. As on their debut EP, Past Tense, Bloom strike an impressive balance between fiery anger and mournful, emotive melodies. This time around things hit a little harder, largely thanks to the more mature subject matter. Overall, it’s an excellent musical representation of the feelings anyone who has lost a loved one is sure to recognise.

While BLOOM maintain a consistent standard throughout, In Passing is definitely a release which gets better as it goes on. Strong opening tracks The Service and The Boat And The Stream quickly prove the group’s melodic hardcore credentials. However, they are soon topped by the already-mentioned third track, and lead single, Daylight. Described by Hawkey as “the best representation of where we want to be at with our sound,” it’s the heaviest song on the record. After starting out as another impressive melodic hardcore track with blistering verses and a gut-punching chorus, the song’s final minute sees the band veer into a series of crushing metallic breakdowns. Here BLOOM draw strong comparisons to COUNTERPARTS, and show a side many listeners will surely be keen to hear more of in years to come.

Next track June is another deeply emotional song. It has a powerful, expansive feel, with lines like “I knew you were ready to go but you held on to say your goodbyes” hitting as hard as the music behind them. BLOOM definitely save the best till last though, closing the EP with its staggering title track. As on all the songs on In Passing, the band do a lot in the track’s three minute runtime. Opening with blistering rage-filled verses and hard-hitting breaks, things take yet another deeply melodic turn in it’s final moments. Soaring guitar parts match Hawkey‘s heartfelt lyrics for a truly beautiful tearjerker of a finale.

The closer’s lyrics are also definitely worth a mention. Of all Hawkey‘s impressive contributions to In Passing, these are the most touching of all. Written as an acceptance of death and an acknowledgement of the importance of reflection, the track’s closing lines see him address his mother’s grief and his own feelings of helplessness one final time: “Mum, I love you and I hope you’re ok. I tried to find the words but didn’t know what to say. Mum, I love you and I hope you’re ok. I wish that I could take all of the pain away.”

With comparisons to be made to TOUCHÉ AMORÉ and DEFEATER, among others, BLOOM haven’t exactly reinvented the wheel. That said, there is no denying that In Passing is a powerful, cathartic and deeply emotional EP. Creating music with such capacity to move its listeners is no mean feat, and the fact that BLOOM have done it this early in their career certainly marks them out as a band well worth watching.

Rating: 9/10

In Passing is out now via Greyscale Records.

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