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Bled to Death is a solo band created by multi-talented musician Matthew “Axl” Peck. The band is noted as the latest in a growing trend of USBM (United States Black Metal) bands, and continues to be a one person project. The project is self-produced, and currently provides its own distribution. Though the band’s genre is highly debated and has changed throughout its history, it is generally considered by the music community to be a form of blackened death metal.
The project began in early 2006, when Peck, involved in a hardcore band (Condemned,) at the time in Gillette, Wyoming, U.S.A ...read more
Bled to Death is a solo band created by multi-talented musician Matthew “Axl” Peck. The band is noted as the latest in a growing trend of USBM (United States Black Metal) bands, and continues to be a one person project. The project is self-produced, and currently provides its own distribution. Though the band’s genre is highly debated and has changed throughout its history, it is generally considered by the music community to be a form of blackened death metal.
The project began in early 2006, when Peck, involved in a hardcore band (Condemned,) at the time in Gillette, Wyoming, U.S.A, became disgruntled at the lack of darker, more extreme influence in the band’s music. While continuing to play with the group until its dissolution in mid-2007 (due to several internal and geographical conflicts), Peck began experimenting on the side with more death metal influenced music. Initially beginning by entering online songwriting competitions and recording at home, positive feedback over the course of a year led to the release of Bled to Death’s first demo, God Must Die , in May 2007, with roughly 50 copies being distributed throughout the U.S. While establishing the project as a viable musical entity and gaining some recognition, the demo’s weaker songwriting, poor production, and obvious remaining hardcore influence put pressure on Peck to follow up with a more established release.
That release came in the form of Sept. 2007’s Cha Togar m’fhearg gun Dioladh EP, a much darker, heavier release that solidified the band’s support. Slightly improved production and songwriting coupled with the complete abandon of hardcore influence established Bled to Death as a solid death metal entity, gaining the support of numerous fans, DJs, and fellow musicians. Financial constraints, however, led to a mere 20 hard copies being distributed amongst a handful of friends and DJs, while the album was, however, released for sale via download on the band’s Myspace page.
The sudden attention also proved to be a major roadblock; the EP led to some of the harshest criticism from the underground community for the repetitive songwriting and alleged generic riffing, as well as poor drum production resulting from the need to use programmed drums. After relocating to Arizona in the fall of 2007, it appeared that the band was at a standstill.
Criticism from the underground coupled with financial failure did not stop Bled to Death, however. During the fall of 2007, Peck delved further into darker realms of music while recording what would prove to be a make or break release. Reaching further towards black metal than ever before, …and Darkness Will Follow was released for download on the internet in December 2007, and was met with a mixed reaction. Though attracting a larger than ever fan base, and hailed for the immense improvement in composition, the album was also criticized for being generic, and the criticism of the EP’s (albeit improved) drum production continued. It was also here that the band’s genre became highly scrutinized; generally accepted as blackened death metal, though Peck and close acquaintances maintain that pure black metal is all the project will be producing in the future.
Peck, however, encouraged by the improved support and new direction the music was taking, immediately went back to the drawing board over Christmas break 2007, and is currently working on a short demo that will accompany the CD release of …and Darkness Will Follow in early 2008. The band is also working on external distribution deals.
Bled to Death continues to maintain its refusal to print its lyrics, or to discuss the meaning behind the songs. He has been known, however, to side on many theological fronts with Gaahl (Gorgoroth), Varg Vikernes (Burzum), Glen Benton (Deicide, Vital Remains) as well as other highly debated black and death metal songwriters, which has drawn criticism for violent anti-Christian sentiments.
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