Author: Primož Novak
Artist: Texas In July
Label: Equal Vision
Release: year_month
Runtime: 40:52
Rating: 4/5
In metalcore, it’s pretty much impossible to create anything new. The genre itself is supposedly worn out, and yet plenty of bands still keep at it and try to give metalcore a bit more meaning. Some bands that took metalcore as their foundation have grown more and more complex and drifted away from the original goal. Plenty of bands do put in the effort, but with so much competition they just can’t seem to rise above the average.
Up to their third album, the American outfit Texas In July somehow hadn’t done anything that stood out. Their music was listenable, sure, but nothing you hadn’t heard before. Mostly, they came across as yet another pale copy of As I Lay Dying and the like. Some bands need a few albums to develop, while for many the creativity dries up right after the debut. Texas In July have seriously surprised us with Bloodwork. In the meantime the band swapped vocalists, which obviously gave them a fresh start. Bloodwork really is a surprise, showing in the polish of the songs and the loss of that generic feel. The album is dynamic, and the hallmarks of metalcore are still there, meaning lots of melodies and breakdowns. The melodies do sound a little familiar, but the breakdowns are a chapter of their own. They’re not dragged out, they’re punchy, fast and at times even complex. The vocals lean toward the aggressive side, with clean singing showing up only in the chorus of Sweetest Poison. In short, a bit of polish, and plain and simple, just a blast!
You can’t call the music simple. Texas In July are full of interesting passages, and the drummer’s playing makes it clear the band has put more emphasis on technicality. You could even say he flirts with djent rhythms. It’s not overdone, though, since the bigger focus is on melody, which brings them close to August Burns Red. The calmer passages are similar too, but you can’t claim it’s just a copy of that increasingly popular band.
With its eleven tracks, Bloodwork is a pretty intense album. The only breather is the instrumental Decamili, where the drummer shines with a solo spot, which breaks any chance of total calm. The album also boasts a good modern sound, though it doesn’t stand out much from other modern metalcore bands today.
With their fourth album, technically polished and packed with dynamics, Texas In July prove they’ve matured as musicians, and there’s a hint of even more to come. They definitely deserve your attention, because Bloodwork is proof there’s still hope in a »worn-out« genre.
Lineup
J. T. Cavey – vocals
Adam Gray – drums
Chris Davis – rhythm guitar
Ben Witkowski – bass
Production
Carson Slovak
Tracklist
1. Broken Soul
2. Sweetest Poison
3. Pseudo Self
4. Defenseless
5. The Void (ft. Levi Benton)
6. Inner Demons
7. Decamilli
8. Nooses
9. The Tightrope
10. Illuminate
11. Bloodwork
