THE BLED “Silent Treatment”
On 2005′s Found In The Flood, THE BLED’s heavy parts got heavier and the softer parts got softer (as we put it). The result was an enjoyable album but one that found the band restraining itself from unleashing its mammoth force. With Silent Treatment, they’ve flat out wrote a mammoth record. While there are some subdued moments where they intently focus on creating invigorating soundscapes (“Asleep On The Frontlines,” “Breathing Room Barricades”), a majority of the record is full of action. The album’s first three tracks – “Shadetree Mechanics,” “You Should Be Ashamed Of Myself,” and “Threes Away” – are packed full of raucous energy. Jeremy Ray Talley’s guitar leads are as frenetic and pummeling as ever here, and the rhythm section once again adequately backs him up (and they offer one heck of a breakdown in the first and final of these three songs). Vocalist James Munoz puts forth an entirely solid performance on this record as well. His scratching-at-the-throat shouting/singing is more forceful than it has ever been, and his vague/metaphorical lyrical ramblings are consistent with past works. Even though the band has done a fantastic job in improving upon their last album, credit should be given to producer Brian McTernan for making this album sound ridiculously huge (and extremely good for bedroom moshing). THE BLED play in a metalcore scene where it is common to simply remain stagnant, but with Silent Treatment they’ve proven that they’re relevancy to heavy music continues to increase with each record.
Vagrant
