Review: The Bled - Pass the Flask

artist: the bled album: pass the flask label: fiddler records released: by: rob tatum The most difficult thing for a hardcore band nowadays is to establish themselves as something out of the ordinary and worth listening to. Tucson, AZ’s The Bled definitely does so with their first full length, Pass the Flask. The band has created ten songs of energetic and melodic beauty. The album has enough power to pummel its listeners during the breakdowns and yet still has that soothing edge of melody to balance everything out. Musically, The Bled falls along the lines of a heavier Poison the Well. The songs contain intense melodies with some solid guitar work. The breakdowns are just as heavy as any band in hardcore, but it’s the melodies that make this release so enjoyable. Most of the songs are hard-hitting, but the band’s ability to tie together each part of the song with intriguing transitions really creates a solid flow. Vocalist James Munoz exhibits a very powerful voice, adding to the prowess of each song. Comparable to a raspier version of Keith from Every Time I Die or Dan from Zao, his voice fits The Bled perfectly. One aspect of this album that I really enjoyed was the lyrics. Although they may appear to resemble some other bands in the same genre, they are much deeper than most metalcore releases. The songs touch a range of subjects, but focus on primarily on love, or love gone bad. My favorite quote comes from the song “Nothing We Say Leaves This Room” and reads, “how we reach for each other only to die alone. how we reach for the stars only to swim through the dead. how we strive to connect only to fall apart.” I really love this album's ability to grab the listener and begs for you to sing along. The Bled as asserted themselves as a force to reckon with in hardcore. As countless bands are formed everyday and many genres are getting overcrowded and tired, The Bled reassures this listener that there is hope out there. Pass the Flask is absolutely amazing. This is hands down the best thing to ever come from Arizona and is definitely one of the best releases of this year. favorite song: "spitshine sonata" rating: 93%/100% listen to the bled