Music Review: Bloodiest, Bloodiest

By Tim Murr

“Doom-laden hardcore psych-metal” is how you’d describe the sophomore album from Chicago’s Bloodiest, a six-piece experimental band with members from Russian Circles, Corrections House, and Yakuza. If you are a big fan of Black Sabbath, Neurosis, Saint Vitus, Unsane, or the Melvins then Bloodiest should fit your taste quite well. Mixing 1990s hardcore, drone, and noise, Bloodiest creates a heady brew.

This self-titled second album is my first exposure to the band so I don’t have their debut Descent to compare it to, but no matter. Bloodiest won me over with these intense eight tracks.

At times the album almost feels symphonic in its epic qualities, like in the transition from the atmospheric “Mind Overlaps” into “He Is Disease” until the latter breaks down into chugging ‘90s hardcore. Bloodiest are bringing a lot to the table in the context of heavy music, reaching across several genres and displaying admirable musicianship.

The first single, Mesmerize” (which is streaming here) epitomizes everything good about this album; ritualistic rhythms, sonically exciting musicianship, and the feeling of a dangerous adventure.

The album was produced by guitarist Tony Lazzara and Sanford Parker, who also produced YOB. It’s being released by Relapse Records on CD and digital, but they are also releasing a stunning-looking blood red vinyl, which coupled with the darkly cool album cover makes for a sexy looking slab of aural and visual art. You can pre-order Bloodiest at the Relapse Store, before it’s released on January 15.

You can also catch Bloodiest on tour in March:

Mar 4: Toronto, ON // The Hard Luck
Mar 6: Montreal, QC // Bar Le Ritz
Mar 7: Brooklyn, NY // St. Vitus
Mar 8: Philadelphia, PA // Kung Fu Necktie
Mar 11: Cleveland, OH // Now That’s Class
Mar 12: Chicago, IL // Empty Bottle