Search - Bleeding Through :: This Is Love, This Is Murderous

Frustration on record sounds like the rest

noizyme | Escondido, CA | 01/02/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"So I really don't listen to this music too much because nothing is valuable to me on this CD. Bands like this are often awesome live, and then you buy this CD, and then you find yourself listening to a few songs off it for a while, and then it phases.



On listen alone, I can't understand the vocalist half the time enough to care what the message is. The musicianship (as with most metalcore albums) is interesting, but molds itself in with other bands. I like the level that they take events to, but I can't see the full picture on words alone.



My guess is that bands like this create songs in their garage for about three months, record them before they forget them, go play shows with this new material and maybe a few of their more memorable ones, and then start all over, burning the bridge and calling it a success. I can't understand that train of thought without some kind of care put into the vocals, and real musicians get interested in new sounds and ways of creating songs, not at all what they seemed to do with this release.



So go see 'em in concert (they probably are a lot of fun to see), but leave the $10 at home if they try peddling this CD."

One of the best Metalcore bands

Logan Peterson | Wichita, Kansas | 07/14/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This Is Love, This Is Murderous is, in my opinion, Bleeding Through's best effort to date. It has the best sound, the best lyrics, and best vocals. When I heard this album for the first time about a year or so ago, I couldnt wait for their next. Then when "The Truth" did come out, I was somewhat disappointed. They took a turn in the more generic Metalcore direction. Its more commercial. Sure, its still a decent album, but just not as good as this one. This album doesnt have that. Neither to their other first two.



Now, this album is not a masterpiece by any means. What this album does lack is the keyboard sounds. Which are a strong point on "The Truth". I mean, if you have a keyboardist, then use her! Some songs lack inspiration. They just sound the same...I dont know why bands would do that. Its like an over use of the Death Metal blast beat, except with groove guitar riffs being over used. What I do like about this album are the vocals most especially. Branden is a great vocalist, and he really can LEAD the band along. If you want to hear how Metalcore should be played then buy this album. Its a Metalcore classic."

"This Is"...good stuff!

A. Stutheit | Denver, CO USA | 06/10/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you grew up in this generation, one of two things probably come to mind when you hear the phrase "Orange County, California":: a) any number of punk and/or screamo bands, or b) that excruciatingly sappy (and now canceled) drama on the Fox Network ("The O.C."). Well, Bleeding Through are from Orange County, but they are neither a punk/screamo band or a group of melodramatic, honey-faced teenagers. They are an intense and hungry young metalcore outfit with loads of potential.



Bleeding Through's third album (and first on a major label, Trustkill Records), 2003's "This Is Love...This Is Murderous," is a bit more unique than typical, faceless metalcore releases, because it incorporates several other genres and influences into the mix. Brandan Schieppati delivers his furious vocals (in the form of growls, barks, and bellows) over a seemingly endless stream of pulverizing breakdowns, blistering Swedish death metal riffs, weighty rhythms, admirably technical drumming (i.e. walloping, grindcore-worthy blast beats), atmospheric, black metal-worthy keyboard accents (ala Dimmu Borgir), and even an occasional ripping guitar solo. The final sound is typically quite catchy, and always very lean, mean, punishing, and satisfying.



Listeners looking for pummeling hardcore beat-downs should definitely give "This Is Love..." a listen, because there are a ton of them to be heard here. And if they aren't your cup of tea, but you enjoy aggressive, brutal, abrasive music with raw-sounding production and a very powerful and visceral impact, you could do a lot worse than this album. After a brief intro ("Lost Love In A Hale Of Gunfire"), the pounding "Sweet Vampirous" is the official set opener, and it pretty much sets the mood perfectly for the rest of the songs, with its dense, churning riffs, bruising rhythm, throaty yells intertwined with clean singing, impeccable (albeit fairly brief) solo, and mellow ending. But then the band storm back with "Number Seven With A Bullet," a sneak attack (it's just over a minute long) backed by dense guitars and forceful death metal blasts that greet the listener like a steel-toed kick to the skull. Then, after the menacingly ambient and highly symphonic "On Wings Of Lead", the bludgeoning "What I Bleed Without You" knocks you flat on your back. Later, Brandon goes absolutely nuts on the microphone while bellowing out the lyrics to tracks like the title tune and "City Of The Condemned" (plus, the latter also features a surprising hardcore shout-along ending: "No regrets!");"Murder By Numbers" boasts scorching guitar interplay, wicked shrieks, slamming drums, and a couple of tasty solos; "Dead Like Me" is another onslaught with extra chunky riffing and a hard, driving rhythm; and "Revenge I Seek," which is probably the record's hookiest song, falls into a lurching, head-bobbing groove.



Monotony sets in after a while, leaving "This Is Love, This Is Murderous" as a good, if not entirely memorable album that shows Bleeding Through had plenty of room for growth (which they would achieve on their 2006 effort, "The Truth"). But it's still a very enjoyable listen, and it makes for competent headbanging sessions. Plus, it may lose out to a few other bands for the best metal/hardcore record of 2003 (see Lamb of God's "As The Palaces Burn," Chimaira 's "Impossibility of Reason," and Hatebreed 's "The Rise of Brutality"), but all in all, it is a pretty close call."