Bleak Falls
Garry from SAN PR recently dropped us a line about Bleak Falls, a band described as the Deftones and Cancer Bats having a bar fight whilst Nirvana blasts out of the jukebox – which sounds pretty interesting to me! We were sent through a copy of their debut release, Another Rainy Day, to check out, described as full of depth, power and drive, and something I was personally looking forward to checking out. I figured the best way forwards was to check things out and see what was going on.
As the Intro gets things going we’re lured into a dark and distorted place, the opening moments immediately suggesting that what is to follow is going to be heavy, hard hitting, and something not to be underestimated. Powerful from the word go, this may only be an intro on the album, yet it immediately sets the tone for the album, paving the way for Morning Light to really get things going. As the track comes into being we’re shown off the full force of the guys, immediately hammering onwards with a groove orientated guitar line and roaring vocal line, the mix adopting a slow pace which serves to fully accentuate the sheer power at hand, showing that this is a band we should not be underestimating in the slightest. Distorted and powerful throughout, this track is one which is sure to get pits moving, people jumping, and a hell of a reputation built as a live band, and it’s only the first proper track on the record!
Chapter Eighteen continues this bass heavy and slow approach once again, opening with a sludgy bassline before kicking into a distorted melee of hammering drums, roaring vocal lines and powerful guitars, the mix showing off a band that understands their craft and can hammer it out damned well. Soon picking up the pace to the sort of thing which will get circle pits moving the venue over, this track continues the distorted and powerful approach of the band, showing off their skills and abilities and continuing to craft tracks which ooze with all out power. Rollin’ On 60’s seems to somehow raise the bar for power, this time throwing us into a Hatebreed style melee of hammering guitar lines, roaring vocals, and a real sense of funky power. To me, this is the sort of track which will find its full force on the live scene, the sort of track which makes you get out to a show, makes you dive head first into the pit, and makes you love every second. Relatively simple in form, this track is another one which had me thinking, the record here seems to offer up various different styles, showing off a band that doesn’t just stick to one style, but instead alters their outlook and style to suit the track they’re hammering out, a sign that these guys know what they’re doing for sure.
Dear Brother marks a definite change in the progression of things, this time pulling back from the edge and showing off a more melodic and soft side to the band, losing the distortion for a moment to allow a soaring guitar line to pave the way, accompanied by the bass and drums to add a real sense of depth to things. To me, this track is like the moments you see on Soulfly records when everything fades back to allow a moment of serene, calming music to take over the lead, almost acting as a moment of reflection on things, and showing that there’s more to just heaviness with Bleak Falls. Building to a crescendo, the track fades out and we’re left with Pass A Promise to close the record, finishing on another slow and heavy note and showing that when it comes down to it, the guys sound is based firmly in the realms of heavy. Roaring vocals abound throughout this final track, closing with a real sense that whatever follows on from this is going to have to be heavy, fast, and insanely powerful – closing on a high for sure, and leaving you with a serious taste for what they’ve got going on.
Bleak Falls have got a sound going on which I really like, it seems to combine heavy with melody, darkness with serene uplifting moments of calm, and a sense that there’s nothing they can’t do. Heavy, melodic, powerful, groovy….it’s got everything, and as a debut release this is something that you don’t often see! My advice, get out there and check these guys out, definitely a band to see live.
To find out more about Bleak Falls, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls.
As the Intro gets things going we’re lured into a dark and distorted place, the opening moments immediately suggesting that what is to follow is going to be heavy, hard hitting, and something not to be underestimated. Powerful from the word go, this may only be an intro on the album, yet it immediately sets the tone for the album, paving the way for Morning Light to really get things going. As the track comes into being we’re shown off the full force of the guys, immediately hammering onwards with a groove orientated guitar line and roaring vocal line, the mix adopting a slow pace which serves to fully accentuate the sheer power at hand, showing that this is a band we should not be underestimating in the slightest. Distorted and powerful throughout, this track is one which is sure to get pits moving, people jumping, and a hell of a reputation built as a live band, and it’s only the first proper track on the record!
Chapter Eighteen continues this bass heavy and slow approach once again, opening with a sludgy bassline before kicking into a distorted melee of hammering drums, roaring vocal lines and powerful guitars, the mix showing off a band that understands their craft and can hammer it out damned well. Soon picking up the pace to the sort of thing which will get circle pits moving the venue over, this track continues the distorted and powerful approach of the band, showing off their skills and abilities and continuing to craft tracks which ooze with all out power. Rollin’ On 60’s seems to somehow raise the bar for power, this time throwing us into a Hatebreed style melee of hammering guitar lines, roaring vocals, and a real sense of funky power. To me, this is the sort of track which will find its full force on the live scene, the sort of track which makes you get out to a show, makes you dive head first into the pit, and makes you love every second. Relatively simple in form, this track is another one which had me thinking, the record here seems to offer up various different styles, showing off a band that doesn’t just stick to one style, but instead alters their outlook and style to suit the track they’re hammering out, a sign that these guys know what they’re doing for sure.
Dear Brother marks a definite change in the progression of things, this time pulling back from the edge and showing off a more melodic and soft side to the band, losing the distortion for a moment to allow a soaring guitar line to pave the way, accompanied by the bass and drums to add a real sense of depth to things. To me, this track is like the moments you see on Soulfly records when everything fades back to allow a moment of serene, calming music to take over the lead, almost acting as a moment of reflection on things, and showing that there’s more to just heaviness with Bleak Falls. Building to a crescendo, the track fades out and we’re left with Pass A Promise to close the record, finishing on another slow and heavy note and showing that when it comes down to it, the guys sound is based firmly in the realms of heavy. Roaring vocals abound throughout this final track, closing with a real sense that whatever follows on from this is going to have to be heavy, fast, and insanely powerful – closing on a high for sure, and leaving you with a serious taste for what they’ve got going on.
Bleak Falls have got a sound going on which I really like, it seems to combine heavy with melody, darkness with serene uplifting moments of calm, and a sense that there’s nothing they can’t do. Heavy, melodic, powerful, groovy….it’s got everything, and as a debut release this is something that you don’t often see! My advice, get out there and check these guys out, definitely a band to see live.
To find out more about Bleak Falls, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls.