ALBUM REVIEW: The Light We Chase – Bloom

Sydney metalcore outfit BLOOM are drawing upon their past for their sophomore album. The Light We Chase is fuelled by nostalgia, and in this space, the band delves into the emotional thread that come with the act of self-reflection. Sonically diving between varying and new facets of their melodic hardcore infused sound, BLOOM are keen to experiment, keeping a keen eye on how where they’ve been will determine where they will go. 

The album opens on the atmospheric and explosive Belrose, which invites you to step back in time with the band. Lyrical nods to their childhoods and where they grew up punctuate the track, and the equally haunting and comforting nostalgia that is so prominent in the album is established from the offset. This duality persists throughout, as BLOOM trace such themes and swirl between reflections on loss in Glen Street to the fear of the present on Forget Me Not.

Taking a brief moment to set the scene with Belrose, BLOOM then come out swinging on Forget Me Not and Out Of Reach. Blasting drums and sharp guitar riffs tear out as vocals effortlessly flow from fraught screams to delicate melodies. This heaviness is easily a highlight of the album, and comes to its biggest moment in Withered. As the band explores discontentment that comes with life in a band, the rapid and tenacious riffs pummel through and fuel the anger and frustration fuelling the track. Act II has a similarly gnarly breakdown, and the feature from Jack Bergin (VOID OF VISION) pushes it to a new height, and one that affirms the force and grit behind BLOOM’s sound. 

It can then feel slightly unexpected when these thunderous moments are followed with more stripped back approaches. Keep You is a unique entry into BLOOM’s discography, and it leans more into more melodic and swooning sounds. Yet the tearing through of Patrick Miranda’s (MOVEMENTS) verse affirms that even on their softer tracks they approach their music with a certain amount of emotional gravity. Keep You finds the band taking a big swing, and it is one that pays off, and the track is easily a highlight across their entire discography for this. 

Ever unafraid to experiment with genres, the challenge is in making it sound cohesive. In moments where the band strips back this energy, BLOOM offer a new side to their sound, but never sacrifice on their vulnerability. On Tongue Tied, the band offer an acoustic side to their sound, leaning into emo, folk, and indie influences. The featured verse from Mikaila Delgado (YOURS TRULY) is a delicate and heartbreaking addition to the song’s emotional weight, and offers a compelling counter-balance amidst the album. 

Whilst The Light We Chase can at times feel scattered, the snappy pace of its run time and immediate sense of emotional vulnerability keeps it quintessentially BLOOM. Nostalgia fuels both the haunting and comforting motions of the album, and with a clear sense of delivering raw and honest lyrics, BLOOM tie together their various threads. Its heavier moments shine through, but BLOOM always keep you guessing at and excited for what they might have next.

Rating: 7/10

The Light We Chase is out now via Pure Noise Records.

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