Review Summary: Despite some of the weaknesses, the band rely yet again on their strengths
The Chicago brothers duo (former trio) have returned with a brand new release titled Bright as Blasphemy. This marks the first album since their departure from Epic Records, and ever since the band decidedly went independent and produced the project by themselves. The band recruited both Kemble Walters as touring bassist, though he recorded for some songs (all written by main songwriter Pete Loeffler), and Beau Burchell (from Saosin) to mix the album.
The end result is somewhat of a mixed bag, though leaning more on the positive than on the negative. On several interviews the lead singer/guitarist expressed frustration on the writing process leading up to the release of their 10th album; which shouldn't be much of a surprise considering how consistent, for better or worse, the band has been through the years. Aside from suffering from writer's block, Pete also carried the weight from not having a producer helping with some of the creative choices. What initially was conceived as a 10 song album, with many songs discarded early on in the process, turned out to be a 9 song album and thus their shortest release in terms of runtime.
Admittedly, though, the songs are laser focused in terms of songwriting and intent. The album continues the trend of having melodic hard rock songs akin to NIRATIAS, but with a heavier and grittier edge this time of around. And fortunately, this is where the band feels the strongest. "Pale Horse" kicks off the album pretty nicely, reminiscent of epic melodic heavy tunes such as "So Long, Mother Earth" or "Self Destructor". "Wolves (Love & Light)" is my personal highlight, feeling like an invigorated "Piñata" from Hats off to the Bull. This might be one of their heaviest songs, carrying an 80's thrash metal influence that isn't normally found in their sound. This leads to my first criticism for the album, which is its production. Some of the heavier moments lack punch because the vocals and the drums are very much upfront, and the bass and guitar sound very often on the background. This lack of dynamics makes the songs, particularly the heavier ones, sound flat.
"Karma Goddess" and "Jim Jones (Cowards, Pt. 2)" are standard heavy Chevelle fare, but not without its merits. The former has an instant hook and the guitar riff after the first chorus is pretty cool, culminating into a climax after the second chorus. The 90's/early 2000's post-grunge/hard rock influences are very present in these two tracks. The latter song is carried by a very catchy riff, which often is reminiscent of early Tool. However, Pete's vocal work in this song is... questionable, to say the least. His vocals are often off key and he resorts to a very high pitch crooning that doesn't necessarily resonate with the gravitas of the song. "Blood Out in the Fields" is, on the other hand, one of the more somber moments of the album, but instead of Pete delivering restraint in his vocal lines he also uses a very high pitch falsetto that often detracts from the impact of the song. This track also seems to lead somewhere but its climax never really comes, and ultimately feels a bit out of place in the album's runtime.
"AI Phobias" features an industrial edge in accordance to the song's lyrics. The song draws from the danceable beat of "Jawbreaker" from La Gárgola and the electronic elements of "Punchline" of The North Corridor. The vocal over dubs also add an interesting effect, making it another standout of the record. "Rabbit Hole (Cowards, Pt. 1)" is probably the most radio friendly, with a wavy guitar riff and an instantly memorable chorus. It's also worth mentioning this might be their most political release lyrics wise, a trend that started with NIRATIAS, where the lyrics became less cryptic and more on the nose.
Despite some of the weaknesses, the band rely yet again on their strengths; great hooks, cool riffs, memorable vocal melodies and a strong sense of urgency as they usually deliver. The overall rating might be lower than a 4 for me, but you know what to do.
