Bleed - Bully Complex

Name: Bleed
Album: Bully Complex
Year: 1995
Style: 2 Singer Scream-Core
Similar Artists: (not familiar with the genre. Any advice?)
"One-Word" Review: Yelly-Emo-Metal-Anger
Based Out Of: Holland, Pa
Label: Soundtrack of Protest Hardcore Records

Bully Complex Cover & Insert Front

Bully Complex Back & Insert Back

Bully Complex Record & Extra Packaging

Bully Complex (1995)

1. Intro (0:36)
2. Timely Reminder (0:37)
3. Angels Never Watch (2:57)
4. Car Call Cancel (2:48)
5. History Letter (3:25)/
6. Legal Jargon (2:40)
7. Open Door Policy (2:57)
8. Sink Like Lead (1:18)
9. Director's Cut (3:20)

Album Rating (1-10):
4.5

Members & Other Bands:
Mike Carrier - Vox
Dave Moore - Vox, Producer
Rich Leiter - Drums (Hall of Fame)
Matt Mannherz - Guitar, Engineer, Producer (Hall of Fame)
Nate Flannagan - Bass
Don Zientara - Produced & Engineered
John Lovrich - Engineer
Duane A. Clemmer - Art & Layout
Patrick Tutek - Photography

Unknown-ness: Never heard of these guys before. I saw the record at the 42nd St thrift store, and thought it looked interesting. I knew it was going to be heavy and hard from the grim, bleak skyline on the cover, and the energetic pictures of the band on the back. In summary, I was expecting Bleak Energy.

Album Review: This will be a challenge for me, because I've never really been into screa-emo music, so I fear that all the tracks will sound roughly the same to me. So I'll just review it, like usual, track by track.

The first track starts with whining screeching guitars, and a repetitive loop of a distorted "they're all gonna laugh at you" and more dialogue. They then launch into the first fast stomping, aggressive shout. The music is basic start/stop, head banging hard core metal with heavy and aggressive drums and guitars. The two distinctive sets of scream vocals interact really well: one is lower pitch than the other, and they trade back and forth, stylistically complementing each other. The second song is emo; the song starts off as a straightforward alternative music with spoken lyrics. Then vocal 2 comes in and begins the scream-core. Both vocals adapt to the aggressive song style and everything picks up in pace and it becomes a driving angry tirade. Midway through, the music slows down like a classic metal/prog song. The style transforms from emo to death metal, and it ends abruptly. "Car Call Cancel" begins like a slow bull, taking inventory of what it has to do. It then thrusts forward and charges. The drums crash, and the guitars ring out in their heavy loops. The vocals in this song are shared with one talk-singing (sometimes yelling) and the other screaming. Dialogue begins "History Letter" and is followed by a heavy build up of drums and guitars. Both vocalists take turns screaming lines. This is a slower paced head-nodding song, rather than the previous head banging. The song repeats its format, following dialogue with more dual screaming, as the musical energy picks up. It ends with fading guitar chord and a tired voice repeating 'failure.'

Side 2 begins with a loud fuzz guitar sound, with accompanied talking. Then the drums bring in screaming from both singers. The music tempo slows, but the vocals continue with their strength and anger. More headbanging angry stomp music with dark, evil guitar for "Open Door Policy." There are quick musical transitions where the music takes off like a bullet, and then slows down to a crawl. The quick metal "Sink Like Lead" is like a short sprint through the musical territory, a summary, if you will of what has come before it. Drums take the main stage at the beginning of the final song. Shouts of "this is my favorite scene" tell the tale of a film directors experience on set. The song speeds up and slows down in quick bursts. The music is somewhat progressive. The song fades out, rather than cutting off, which makes it seem as if the vocalists are screaming forever.

I can appreciate the songs on this record. I don't enjoy listening to the vocals that are just screaming without melody or relation to the music. But the music is good. It is powerful, and the rapid, quick time changes make the music very interesting, and keep the listener on their toes. This music is made for the live show. The bursts of quick loud rampaging bits are followed by slower, recovery sections. This gives fans on the floor time to relax after they display their talents. No one song is complete energy or total down time. Their importance in being linked together is the formula for the song's construction of this genre. When you think about it, the people in the crowd that are waiting or gathering breath for the next quick part is very similar to the auditory delight of waiting for a creative pop to deliver its catchy hook after the build up of musical anticipation.

Stand Out Track:
Angels Never Watch
Links:
Discog's Bleed Page
Youtube Page w/ 4 Bleed Clips
Bleed Lastfm