Members of The Bled for this album:
Vocals - James Munoz
Guitar - Jeremy Ray Talley
Guitar - Ross Ott
Bass - Darren Simoes
Drums, Programming - Mike Pedicone
Original Release Date: August 23, 2005
Label as produced: Vagrant Records
Produced, Recorded, and Mixed by Mark Trombino
About The Bled
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Originally Posted by Thebledsite.com
Bands usually seek to do one of two things: define their genre, or defy their genre. However, since bursting out of Tucson, AZ in 2001 with their unique mix of hardcore brutality and an eclectic musical palette, The Bled have done both. Taking cues from their peers in the burgeoning hardcore scene of the time—bands like The Refused and Dillinger Escape Plan—The Bled quickly became one of a handful of bands who set the standard for the genre. But with the release of the Found in the Flood— the band’s second full-length and first for Vagrant Records—The Bled have set themselves apart from the hordes of bands joining the hardcore fray, in the process forging their own place in the musical spectrum.
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My take on The Bled
I don't know what words like
eclectic musical palette are supposed to mean to be quite honest, but I do know how to speak in terms of the music lovers vocabulary. The Bled was a band that got recommended to me back in 2003. When I heard sample clips of some songs off of there first LP, Pass The Flask, I wasn't really into it because back then I was still into the whole pop-punk thing. It wasn't until a year after that where I redeemed the album for being one of my favorites in the collection. My most noticeable reference to the Bled has to be there style of breakdowns with slick time changes that have even left me in awe as they play it live almost as perfectly as originally recorded. To the opposition of opinion people may think the whole jun jun jun, sound is mediocre but look around at what so many bands have created to calling break down today. Also has anyone noticed the complexity of some of the riffs that Jeremy Talley (lead guitarist) has created with some of the sickest fills in songs like "I never met another gemini" and "porcelain hearts and hammers for teeth". I would never dare to call this band mediocre after seeing them live on three different occasions, but next to that I wouldn't say they defy a genre either. They are kind of up there, but not exactly anything that breaks ground to something new. Needless to say they do what they do, proficiently well.
Song Breakdown:
1) Hotel Coral Essex (4:09) - 4 out of 5 - Almost instantly old fans of The Bled can recognize the screams of James Munoz introducting the album. The music takes a fast pace and never really lets go after the first few seconds of the intro. At about the 2 minute mark, The Bled reminds of there weird time changing breakdowns. The guitars clash with heavy palm mutes and the room begins to spin with James Munoz screaming "We're guilty till we die". What makes it so unique is it feels like it really just comes out of no where in left field from the original beat of the song.
2) Guttershark (3:28) - 4 out of 5 - This song basically starts by kicking the door down being lead with guitars following vicious screams by Mr. Munoz. This song seems like it could of definitely passed on being on Pass The Flask, and it basically emulates as heavy as the band gets throughout Found In The Flood. I feel like the song puts the listener on his back on the ground and repeatly tries to punch him in the face while its ontop of them. The bass even finds a part to growl through the 2 minute point of the song while the guitarists find themselves layering over scales and harmonics.
3) My Assassin (4:09) - 3.5 out of 5 - When I first heard this song I couldn't even believe that this was James voice. The chorus vocals made it even harder to believe that it sounds like he is almost letting out a whining cry. I was actually impressed by the song structure since it seemed like the drums and bass were much more profound that the usual typical Bled structure which seems like they unload on the listener with guitars. The guitars took a more melodic side in this song as it seems like the vocals did too. Hmmm...
4) Antarctica (5:54) - 3 out of 5 - This song is extremely slow for me, and I really cant time to appreciate it. I'm sure if another band such as Dillinger Escape Plan, or BTBAM did a song like this I could appreciate it more but it really slows down the album. I can listen to the first 3 songs of the album without a skip but this is usually where I find myself either falling asleep or wanting to skip just because this song doesn't even feel like The Bled should even attempt it. It's extremely calm and experimental in soft sounds and once again James Munoz singing... I've heard him sing live and I do thing he does a decent job but when his scream is so unique, why would you want to resort to singing...
5) She Calls Home (2:34) - 4.5 out of 5 - James Munoz seems to found his gentials again in this. For some reason this song reminds me alot like Red Wedding without "guts". It seems like it's really a stripped down version or a mainstream version of Red Wedding but nonetheless I like the song alot.
6) The Last American Cowboy (3:49) - 5 out of 5 - BRACE YOURSELF... This song starts off so heavy with slow thick guitar riffs and as it breaks to the chorus I can only remember before seeing them at Warped Tour watching Jeremy Talley warm up by playing the interlude and chorus of the song. It left me in much awe watching him playing it as I listen to it each time at home through my headphones. This is my favorite song off of Found In the Flood and I recommend listening to it if your new to the band.
7) Daylight Bombings (4:47) -4.5 out of 5 - Now this is a different situation from "Antarctica", because it breaks right from "The Last American Cowboy". The guitar is amazing, soft, and melodic but it's extremely catchy flowing with harmonics through James singing voice. If The Bled ever want to become a melodic band I hope they follow off of this song and not Antarctica because I won't have to fall asleep listening to them. Even the breakdown in this song creates a sense of style since it is The Bled after all. They don't let you forget that even through singing...
8) Millionaires (1:26) - 3 out of 5 - Was this supposed to be a watered down version of "Get up you son of a bitch, cause mickey loves ya"? The synth riffs sound cool off of the guitar but really it could of been so much better.
9) With An Urgency (2:40) - 3.5 out of 5 - I really try not to let the beginning vocals not to ruin this song since I do not like them at all. I don't even know why but they sound gross to me for whatever reason. I actually enjoy the chorus alot and its the only thing that really saves this song for me.
10) I Don't Keep With Liars Anymore - 3.5 out of 5 - I think Kif said it best, that this song is like The Bled in a nutshell. It has alot of its oldself in it, colliding with some of the new. It's aggressive and attacking at times, but it just doesn't have that something for me. It's a good song and I'm sure alot of kids like it anymore, but it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
A watered down version of a great band or maturity?
It's hard to say really because as much as being signed to a major label has ruined so many bands, the direction in Found In The Flood just seemed lost. It's like they had there trigger finger on becoming some of the mainstream with all of there singing now, but they still couldn't shake there old roots. They really had no direction and put both of there feet on the heavy/melodic side. Some songs worked out okay with this, others did not. I know that all of there talent is there, and I don't think they've sold out but I'm also fearful for this band. These guys can write songs so much better then what they did in Found In The Flood and I only sound harsh with that because I heard an album before this by them... called Pass The Flask.
Pros:
+ Creativity
+ Experimental
+ The singer isn't just a screamer
Cons:
- Confused in where they are going
- The order of the tracks could of made this album much more listenable
- The singer should stay a screamer
UIAC gives The Bled - Found In The Flood
3 out of 5
