I’ll be honest—before being asked to review Zenith, I hadn’t even heard of Bleed from Within. I’m
no metalcore expert, but I’ve dabbled in it. So when I found out they were Scottish and had been
around for 20 years, my curiosity was piqued. Hailing from Glasgow, Bleed from Within have
evolved from metalcore upstarts to a progressive force over two decades, gaining traction more
recently with 2022’s acclaimed Shrine. Now with Zenith, they’re taking a bold creative leap, while
still keeping themselves true to their sound.
The Scottish metal titans have always balanced brutality and melody, but Zenith sees them bending
the genre limits. Throughout the album’s 47-minute journey, there are plenty of relentless riffs and
grooves that will have you headbanging, technical moments that will surely grab guitar lovers
attention and surprising moments throughout that keep the album fresh and unexpected.
“In Place of Your Halo” grabs you by the throat with metalcore ferocity. Dissonant guitars create
tension throughout, only to throw a curveball at the end just when you think you’ve got it figured
out—bagpipes! Not as a gimmick, but as a natural extension of the band’s Scottish roots, weaving
through the breakdown like a bold Highland roar that wouldn’t feel out of place on a Saor record.
The title track “Zenith” for me is the high point of the album. Starts with crushing riffs, relentless
rhythm, memorable chorus. The climax introduces electronic textures and ethereal vocals, creating
a moment of haunting beauty—only to be shattered by a massive groove, where the airy singing
clashes with Kennedy’s snarled “My hands around your throat. You’ll never breathe again.”, a
moment of brutal poetry that lingers long after the song ends.
Just as we catch our breath, “God Complex” kicks in with its high paced energy, arena-ready chants
and thrash-inflected verses. This is the band at their least serious and most anthemic. Definitely the
kind of track built for a fun live performance. Great energy and guitar solo moments.
In “A Hope in Hell”, the album gives a slice of its emotional side. The initial electronic-tinged
verses and clean vocals (possibly taking influence from some recent Bad Omens vibes), build to a
cathartic explosion, with Kennedy shifting between clean vulnerability and guttural rage.
“Dying Sun” has a more mellow groovy sound, sometimes feeling a bit of a nod on some
soundscapes that you’d find on old school Metallica, old school At The Gates or more recently on
bands like Gojira. Definitely one of my favourites on the album.
“Immortal Desire” (feat. Brann Dailor) again shows signs of the band expanding their sound by
mixing operatic elements with their metalcore sound, complete with dramatic vocal trade-offs and a
chorus that soars higher than anything they’ve done before.
By the time we reach “Edge of Infinity”, the journey comes full circle. What begins as a strippeddown acoustic ballad transforms into one final, emotional eruption. Clean vocals give way to roars,
quiet introspection to towering crescendos. The piano outro fades like a sigh, leaving us in silence.
The mix is crisp, punchy, and hyper-modern. Every snare crack, every guttural roar, every
harmonized guitar lead hits with surgical precision. Subtle electronic textures and ghostly backing
vocals sprinkled throughout add depth to the album, creating a surprisingly cohesive sound despite
the diverse influences.
That said, the album does feel quite loud and compressed at times, with little variation in volume or
intensity between sections. While that suits the genre’s in-your-face style, it can make some tracks
feel a bit flat. It’s a relief then that songs like “Dying Sun” and “Edge of Infinity” offer more
breathing room, letting the dynamics shine through—Edge of Infinity in particular stands out thanks
to its piano-led section that gives it a much more dramatic range.
Vocalist Scott Kennedy delivers a great performance, shifting effortlessly between guttural roars
and surprisingly nuanced clean singing. The remaining members shine equally, all having moments
to shine in the album. The guest contributions also help to elevate key tracks without
overshadowing the core band.
Overall, Zenith is a powerful statement. Bleed from Within aren’t just pushing their sound—they’re
redefining it. They now occupy a unique space in modern metalcore: too heavy for mainstream
radio, but too refined for the underground. The expanded soundscapes, genre-bending experiments,
and moments of raw emotion elevate this album beyond the typical formula. It’s heavy, it’s
heartfelt, and it sticks with you.
Rating: Great!
Format reviewed: 1411 kbps WAV
Release Date: April 4, 2025
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Review by Pedro Baptista