BLOODLETTER
LEAVE THE LIGHT BEHIND
Artist: Bloodletter
Release date: July 25th, 2025
Genre: Thrash, Black Metal
Length: 35 Minutes, 10 Tracks
Joe's Overall thoughts: Having only scratched the surface of this band and its discography, thanks to Bandcamp's recommendation newsletter, which, by the way, might be the discovery of the year from that source, I have really enjoyed what I have heard from this band. Though I'll admit that leans more toward the present incarnation and the last 2 albums, especially.
I can see why the band themselves find Funeral Hymns the demarcation line for the heights to climb up to now and in the future. That album really is special, and its follow-up, a few years later, is a much different experience in A Different Kind of Hell, but equally as fierce. They bring a lot of influences that are familiar forward like SkeltonWitch, Dark Angel, Shadow's Fall, and even a bit of Obituary but do so with a punk and hardcore sensibility that says we are spending as little time as possible to get our point across because why waste time. There is a nice, even flow to the headbanging that starts right from the opening riff, and it doesn't relent for 10 tracks in. So let's experience these tracks together.
2. ON BLACKENED WINGS - Right out of the gate, a much more solvent riff seemingly teases the embarking of a building crescendo to which a thrash opus is upon us. Nope, that sleight of hand is quickly pulled out when Pete's shallow and fierce death growl rips through a raging riff storm. A very Angel of Death-esque opening that plows right into an incredible Pat Armamento's death chord that shreds in like punctuation marks. This is one of my favorite tracks because it leads to this incredible cinematic reverence of Death riding on a winged cryptid as Bloodletter plays him into the scene, faux visual. It has such a great 1-2-3 aspect to its sonic blast that continues a quick thumping of your ears that cascades down the sides of your neck that pulsates as vibrational therapy. This one seems to be more of a three-act structure in the sense, it begins and at least ends, albeit abruptly. Just absolutely amazing thrash here.
3. ETERNAL WINTER - The coolest and most unique aspect of this band is every song seems to not only start like it has already been playing for a couple of minutes, but wherein, if you happen to be listening to the full album experience like I have several times, it feels like an extension or sequel if you wil to the previous track. It's weird to think that, but it really feels like there was an intentional concept behind that. Here we also get probably the most steady lyrical cadence from Pete that feels more in line with the Obituarys and Skeltonwitches of the world. The lead riff is a speed bag of hair whips, and I love how it has an almost naturalistic and predictable end as if it was just time to stop.
4. TERMINAL - The first epic thrashier intro that is a riff that leads to another riff, then just pecks like needles on a voodoo doll. Pete is really finding his footing vocally and lyrically here, "It started as a whisper, so quiet and so cruel ... A voice that questioned every step ... and every choice." This is another favorite of mine because while it can easily be labeled a doom song lyrically but its thrash elements just refuse to let the energy of terrible thoughts turn this into a pity party. Very much like an Exodus-esque ideal for me. Again, incredible work done by Zach, the drums are ferocious here. I love the culminating peak where Pete punches his vocals and we get a nice lasting riff that rages to the song's abrupt end. It even has a nice echo chamber-like tail off that is pretty cool.
5. UNEARTHING DARKNESS - Another ripper that just starts right in 4th gear and never looks back. Though I will say about halfway in, there is a nice rhythmic pit churning quality to the tempo. You can almost see the circles as you listen. There is also the very first true solo on this album and it's nice. Another keeper that will be in my various listening rotations.
6. HUNTING HORROR - Cool thrash meets darkened corner intro. This has a nice flow to it as well. Again, and I can't say this enough, the fills here on this track that are being managed by Zach on drums are so potent and so fierce. This is quickly and easily my favorite percussion performance on any album I have reviewed this year. As with every track here, how this band is finding ways to come to abrupt ends on their songs continues to be a defining trait, and this one feels like a quick brake right before you hit the wall. I also think, as dark as Pete gets here with the lyrics, there is a tonal shift that kind of doesn't mirror the darkness but rather forbodes it. Which is a very old school ideal, thinking of bands like Obituary and Death who did that amazingly well. Another big winner for me here.
7. THE BLACK DEATH - That almost weirdly optimistic thrash tone leads the way into a more sinister chorus and darker fading riff. This is one of the best lyrically and resonant performances on this album for Pete's vocals. This one kind speeds by even with a very quick solo that bridges into the ending. It has a great feel to it but you are left wanting more from it for sure.
8. CALL OF THE DEEP ONE - This is real old school thrash riffing, and it is for sure the best sung and best paced song on the album. A very rich pit circling tempo that has one of the best bridges this band has ever built. A very cool middle Jenga tower of chords and bass drumming that builds into one of the most unique endings here, a Pete vocal and evil breath of sorts.
9. THE BURIAL - For the first time on the back half of this album, I felt like the previous song really helped bring in the next track. There is kind of natural flow with it. This time too, Pat and Zach combine for the fill section electricity between lyrics with a cool strum and soft cymbals tapping. Again, there is a nice bridge at around the 2:15 mark that shifts the tone oh so slightly and leads right back into the built-in riffs that preexisted.
10. NIGHT TERRORS - Finally, we get a cinematic, haunting organ intro that leads into the most polished of all their riffs here. Pete is amazing vocally here. His command of the velocity that paces through a nice array of guitars and bass is really what kept me into this song. It is their most commercial by far and ends as it begins and thus I was glad to have a full circle moment here.
Joe's Final thoughts: Something that really struck me as I was absorbing this album a couple times over the convention of thrash has shifted with the likes of Shadow's Fall and SkeltonWitch, bands of that ilk and what BloodLeeter is giving to the genre is kind of what Nuclear Assault and Crytic Slaughter gave to it, a punk rock construction in terms of song length and just get your shit in and get out type of thought process. However, what's a tad different is that there are several moments when there is a conventional thrash tempo, the likes of all the greats mixed with a little bit of a hardcore tease. Not as teasing as a band like One Step Closer that straddles lines of hardcore and metal, but there are moments when you do think Bloodletter can go there, but pulls it back. I do think what would be interesting is to see if Bloodletter had a heavier, more conventional construction to a few of these songs, like alternate versions, almost where they give it a few beats or extend the fills and solos. Ultimately, it's what I like most about this band and this album though, is it gets you in and out and still allows you to absorb the majority of it with a positive reaction or physical response like wanting to go full circle pit. I am impressed that they have found a formula for this that works and works uniquely, and there is no doubt they will populate a lot of my thrash and doom playlists.
10. NIGHT TERRORS - Finally, we get a cinematic, haunting organ intro that leads into the most polished of all their riffs here. Pete is amazing vocally here. His command of the velocity that paces through a nice array of guitars and bass is really what kept me into this song. It is their most commercial by far and ends as it begins and thus I was glad to have a full circle moment here.
Joe's Final thoughts: Something that really struck me as I was absorbing this album a couple times over the convention of thrash has shifted with the likes of Shadow's Fall and SkeltonWitch, bands of that ilk and what BloodLeeter is giving to the genre is kind of what Nuclear Assault and Crytic Slaughter gave to it, a punk rock construction in terms of song length and just get your shit in and get out type of thought process. However, what's a tad different is that there are several moments when there is a conventional thrash tempo, the likes of all the greats mixed with a little bit of a hardcore tease. Not as teasing as a band like One Step Closer that straddles lines of hardcore and metal, but there are moments when you do think Bloodletter can go there, but pulls it back. I do think what would be interesting is to see if Bloodletter had a heavier, more conventional construction to a few of these songs, like alternate versions, almost where they give it a few beats or extend the fills and solos. Ultimately, it's what I like most about this band and this album though, is it gets you in and out and still allows you to absorb the majority of it with a positive reaction or physical response like wanting to go full circle pit. I am impressed that they have found a formula for this that works and works uniquely, and there is no doubt they will populate a lot of my thrash and doom playlists.
YOU CAN GRAB THE ALBUM HERE
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