Bloodsimple - Red Harvest
Reprise Records
Thrashy Alternative Metal
11 songs (45:24)
Release year: 2007
Bloodsimple, Reprise Records
Reviewed by Khelek

Bloodsimple is another band I've been listening to for quite some time now, ever since I heard some of their 2003 demo material. Their sound is aggressive and purely metal, yet they also have the ability to create good songs that are slower and more atmospheric, so I was definitely very excited for this album.

Now I’ll be the first to admit I am not much of a fan of these newer 'metal' bands that mix a lot of stuff from different genres and usually come out with something that sounds like a cross between alt rock, emo, and Metallica, but here is one rare exception that I am glad I’ve had the opportunity to listen to. This is the band’s second studio album and while they still sound somewhat the same, they have definitely stepped up the level of aggression in their music. There are less balladesque songs to be found here than on 2005's A Cruel World. In fact only the first half of the first track and then another song towards the end of the disk entitled Truth (Thicker Than Water) have any ballad resemblance. In place of the slower stuff the band has opted to play faster, more aggressive songs with a use of some thrash-influenced guitar work and the angry vocals of Tim Williams. The lyrics have also changed for the most part from creating desolate atmospheres to creating scenes of rage, murder, and general destruction. While the band's past stuff did have its share of violent lyrics, this is a double dose comparatively.

Honestly I was hoping for a bit more from these guys this time around. I really enjoyed A Cruel World because of its ability to mix aggression with a more melodic and sometimes depressing atmosphere. They seem to have gone more in the direction that other bands such as Trivium, going for a more commercially viable sound. Yes it is catchy and fun to listen to, but except for a couple songs, it doesn’t stir a lot of emotion in me the same way A Cruel World did. All in all though, it's not a bad album. The instruments are played to damn near perfection for what it’s worth, but you won’t find a lot of technicality on this album either, another thing I was a bit disappointed about. Tim Williams still sings with a passion for aggression and sounds great doing it. The production on this album is also very strong and very good. In conclusion, if you're looking for a catchy, aggressive alternative metal album that has a unique style different from the heaps of alt-crap out there, pick this up. On the other hand if you're looking for something with a bit more complexity to it, you won't find much here unfortunately.

Killing Songs :
Ride With Me, Whiskey Bent and Hellbound (Hellmyr), Truth (Thicker Than Water)
Khelek quoted 70 / 100
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