(Artwork by Bill Elis)
Scottish metal band Bleed From Within released their latest album, “Zenith,”
on April 4, 2025. The album consists of 11 tracks and features Brann Dailor and
Sylosis as guests on two tracks (“Immortal Desire” and “Hands of Sin”
respectively). The album was mixed and mastered by Ermin Hamidovic.
The album features Scott Kennedy on vocals, Craig “Goonzi”
Gowans and Steven Jones on guitar, Ali Richardson on drums, and Davie Provan on
bass. The band wrote the songs on the album as well as produced the album. “Zenith”
is the band’s fourth album. They formed in 2005 and released their first album
in 2009.
Many people tend to shy away from listening to metal because
they find it difficult to understand the lyrics. However, with this album, listeners
may find that they are able to hear and pick up more of the lyrics than they
usually do when they listen to metal. For the most part, the instruments and
the vocals are in balance, which aids in being able to understand the lyrics.
While most metal all sounds relatively similar, I like the
different sounds within the songs on “Zenith.” Each song has a different feel
to it and plays with different instrumentations to keep things interesting. There
is the typical metal vocals, but they are interspersed with melodic singing as
well, breaking up the sound and adding something extra to the tracks.
“Zenith” pushes the limits of what metal can do and sound
like. From more melodic vocals to even a bagpipe section on “In Place of Your
Halo,” this album is full of surprises that will shock even the most avid metal
fan. The layers of the songs showcase what Bleed From Within is able to do and demonstrate
the band’s talent that has developed over the years.
Overall, this album is one of the best metal albums out
there. The tracks are enhanced with various layers of instruments and varying
vocal styles. Most of the songs (seven in total) are labeled as “Explicit,” so parents
of young listeners should use discretion. This album is a great introduction to
metal music for those who may be intimidated by the genre or for those who do
not think metal is for them. There is enough variety within the songs that
anyone will find something that appeals to them.
Album Credits:
Producers: Scott Kennedy, David Provan, Steven Jones, Ali
Richardson, and Craig Gowans
Composers: Scott Kennedy, David Provan, Steven Jones, Craig
Gowans, and Ali Richardson
Lyricists: Scott Kennedy, David Provan, Steven Jones, Craig
Gowans, and Ali Richardson
Track List:
1. Violent Nature
2. In Place of your Halo
3. Zenith
4. God Complex
5. A Hope in Hell
6. Dying Sun
7. Immortal Desire (feat. Brann Dailor)
8. Chained to Hate
9. Known by no Name
10. Hands of Sin (feat. Sylosis)
11. Edge of Infinity
-Album Review: "The Smile You Send Returns To You" by Constant Follower: https://kiltedowl.blogspot.com/2025/03/album-review-smile-you-send-returns.html
-Album Review: "Blindness" by The Murder Capital: https://kiltedowl.blogspot.com/2025/03/album-review-blindness-by-murder-capital.html