ALBUM REVIEW: Fracture – Bleed From Within

There are few bands in the UK metal scene as utterly monolithic as BLEED FROM WITHIN. The Glaswegian five piece have had one of the most incredible trajectories since the release of their debut album over a decade ago. Initially a run-of-the-mill deathcore outfit, the quintet quickly evolved into a groove-heavy, modern metal behemoth with their apparent breakthrough record Uprising, before disappearing from the focus of the scene following their 2014 EP Death Walk. 2018 saw saw the Scottish bruisers return with their most accomplished record to date, Era, and barely two years on they are back once again with Fracture to show their comeback wasn’t just a fluke. 

With such a long-reaching evolution in a relatively short period of time under their belts, you could almost forgive BLEED FROM WITHIN if they sounded a bit confused, and lost in establishing their own identity. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Aurally the band are more focused than ever, and while there is a very strong, very obvious comparison to groove metal legends LAMB OF GOD across Fracture, this isn’t the result of a band trying to recreate Sacrament. Rather, this is BLEED FROM WITHIN channelling their love of their inspirations into creating a very distinctive style, unmistakable at even a casual listen.

The groove-a-thon wastes no time in getting started as the quintet fire headfirst into lead single, The End of All We Know. Crushing heaviness stomps through the bulk of the track, with bursts of thrashy speed and a stunning chorus which sees main man Scott Kennedy and guitarist Steven Jones break out some harmonised singing offering a delightful change of pace. This added dose of melody in the chorus is a lovely way to lift the pretty non-stop barrage of heaviness, and inject a bit more memorability. The band teased this avenue for vocal delivery with Era, but its wonderful to see it fully utilised here.

Keen to keep the momentum rolling, Pathfinder brings an interesting hint of synth work into play before ramping the tempo right up from Fracture‘s opening number. Kennedy mixes up his vocal delivery towards the end, his whispers adding a new level of atmosphere before an utterly devastating breakdown crashes in with a level of intensity that makes you feel its perfectly acceptable to spin-kick your nan. Meanwhile Into Nothing steamrolls its way through as an early highlight of Fracture with Kennedy again showing his prowess as one of metal’s strongest voices and riffs that will give even the most resilient of necks whiplash, and Fall Away keeps the intensity every-growing.

Its from the mid-way point that BLEED FROM WITHIN really throw down the gauntlet. Fracture‘s title track is dripping with angst, atmosphere and aggression, bringing a welcome change of pace, while Night Crossing – which features a wonderful, bluesy guest solo courtesy of TRIVIUM‘s Matt Heafy – is one of the heaviest, funnest tracks the band has ever released. Meanwhile, For All to See is drowning is stunning guitar work from Jones and Craig “Goonzi” Gowans and Ascend carries some of the biggest hooks not just of Fracture, but of BLEED FROM WITHIN‘s entire discography. The band end Fracture on an incredible high with the one-two of Utopia and A Depth That No One Dares. The former brings a very palpable violence to the fore, ending on a literal mic drop, while closing A Depth That No One Dares has a lovely, atmospheric vibe, complete with Egyptian sounding melodies subtly tucked in the background amid the hard-hitting riffs and gargantuan hooks. Arguably the most interesting track on Fracture, you couldn’t ask for a better end to the record.

As if there was anyone still needing convincing, BLEED FROM WITHIN aren’t just here to stay; they’re here to conquer. Moving from strength to strength, the Glaswegians double down on the monolithic sonic assault they established with Era, and consequently spend much of Fracture delivering more funky groove and violence than Leatherface at a JAMES BROWN show. Kennedy continues to establish himself as one of the finest vocalists on the British Isles, while Ali Richardson maintains an atomic level of tightness and string section masters Goonzi, Davie Provan and Jones keep the groove and brutality ever-present. Pass the Bucky, and let’s dive in for another round on this masterpiece of modern metal.

Rating: 9/10

Fracture is set for release May 29th via Century Media Records. 

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