Send "The Bled " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Absolutepunk |
 You might need to shed some layers. In fact, crack open a few windows, you’re gonna need all the cool air you can get. Hell, maybe even invest in a flame-retardant suit, because The Bled’s new fire bomb of an album, Heat Fetish, just took a sledgehammer towards your A/C unit. The Arizona quintet turned over three-fifths of its lineup sometime in 2009, with guitarist Jeremy Talley and vocalist James Muñoz remaining as the only original members. Such a move has seemed to reignite the band, as their Rise Records debut, Heat Fetish, reclaims the ferocity first heard 7 years ago on Pass The Flask. Not to say that the group lost their swagger on their last two efforts; it’s just Heat Fetish is the end result they were trying to achieve with Found in the Flood and Silent Treatment. The Bled have found their ideal sound here – maintaining that brutal heaviness while implementing some experimental structures. Opening track “Devolver” sets the stage immediately – Heat Fetish is going to specialize in scorching breakdowns executed by Talley and fellow guitarist Robbie Burbidge. Muñoz sounds rejuvenated on the mic, seamlessly transitioning from rough to clean vocals. “Mouthbreather” continues the pace, while “Running Through Walls” features an exhilarating final minute. Basically the first few songs of Heat Fetish are The Bled reminding everyone that they will kick your ass, as “Smoke Breaks” is the musically equivalent of a curb-stomping....full text |
| Underthegunreview |
| Artist: The Bled Album: Heat Fetish Genre: Post-Hardcore Label: Rise It’s been early three years since The Bled have blessed the music industry with new material and that’s far too long in my book. In that time, founding members James Muñoz [vocals] and Jeremy Talley [guitar] replaced 60% of the band, worked day/odd jobs to pay bills, and found a new home at Rise Records. Now with new cohorts and more drive than ever before The Bled re-emerge like phoenix from the depths of the sun with their fourth studio album which hits stores March 9th, Heat Fetish. Wasting no time going for the jugular of modern heavy music, “Devolver” serves as a stepping stone to the post-hardcore resurrection that Heat Fetish becomes over the course of its twelve tracks. The fury with which not only the band, but Muñoz’ vocals attack has such urgency in each and every line that you can’t help but be fully engulfed by the time assured future fan favorite “Running Through Walls” begins. Instead of going full-on, 100% heavy throughout, The Bled focus a lot more on the technical side of their craft [while keeping the chugs plentiful] with guitars that seem to be nearly swirling throughout the entire record, breaking only momentarily for epic, mosh pit inducing chugs like that found in “Smoke Breaks.” However, as a perfect example of their technical side coming through, “Need New Conspirators,” the very next track, has one of the most eerie buildups I’ve heard in awhile before driving drums with force of a freight train come crashing through with brings the rest of the group along for the ride. While the genius song structures will have you coming back again and again, what really takes Heat Fetish to an all new level are the equally well crafted lyrics of James Muñoz. Having spent the last couple years mainly off the road and back in touch with the day to day reality of common men and women everywhere, there’s an undeniable sincerity to every word that comes through speakers. No longer are The Bled a road worn band writing songs that mainly came into being as a result of endless highway and smoke filled clubs. Instead, it seems their sources have become the trials of everyday life and man’s eternal search for something more. Almost relentlessly on the record we find metaphors for religion and salvation [in many form] and its this kind of honest songwriting that finds The Bled correcting all the recent [neon influenced] post-hardcore wrongs. Anyone who doubts this need look no further than the massive one-two punch of “Night Errors” and “Crawling Home” which finds the band traversing some of their most expansive sounds yet with jaw dropping success as Muñoz tears his throat to shreds screaming lines like, “don’t ask me what I am becoming, something that you cannot comprehend.”...full text |
| Sputnikmusic |
| After releasing their third full-length, Silent Treatment in 2007, The Bled decided to stop touring. This decision turned into a colossal turning point for the band, as the band members soon fell into debt. In order to pay off their debts, members of the band either had to play in other bands or get regular jobs. As a result of this, founding members Russ Ott (guitar) and Mike Pedicone (drums) left the band, as well as bassist Darren Simoes, who joined the band in 2004. The Bled was forced to recruit three new members, and, on top of that, were dropped from Vagrant Records. Still, after all this, The remaining members of The Bled as well as the new recruits pushed on and created an album that stands with the best of anything The Bled has done. “Devolver” kick-starts the album, with dissonant chords and vocals from James Muñoz, which, yes, sounds a lot like Keith Buckley from Every Time I Die. The comparison with Keith Buckley is not necessarily unfounded, as there are similarities, however Muñoz has his own voice, especially when singing as opposed to his guttural screams. The best showcase of this is “Meet Me in the Bone Orchard,” which does a better job of showing of Muñoz’s vocal talents than most of the other songs. This album ultimately rests on the shoulders of its two guitarists, and, for the most part, they succeed. The dissonance of the guitars is prevalent the entire album, with the numerous tapping passages that The Bled has become known for. When the guitar work is at it's best is when the band is going all out, because the guitarists show off their technicality and speed, yet not going outside or disregarding of the song-writing and structure. The drumming is also strong, while never being fantastic. The new drummer, Josh Skibar, knows his way around a kit and also seems more than capable to keep up with the more mathy elements of The Bled’s sound....full text |
The Bled lyrics
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