Bled, The - Heat Fetish

[Drew Beringer]

The Bled – Heat Fetish
Release Date: March 9, 2010
Record Label: Rise

You might need to shed some layers. In fact, crack open a few windows, you’re gonna need all the cool air you can get. Hell, maybe even invest in a flame-retardant suit, because The Bled’s new fire bomb of an album, Heat Fetish, just took a sledgehammer towards your A/C unit.

The Arizona quintet turned over three-fifths of its lineup sometime in 2009, with guitarist Jeremy Talley and vocalist James Muñoz remaining as the only original members. Such a move has seemed to reignite the band, as their Rise Records debut, Heat Fetish, reclaims the ferocity first heard 7 years ago on Pass The Flask.

Not to say that the group lost their swagger on their last two efforts; it’s just Heat Fetish is the end result they were trying to achieve with Found in the Flood and Silent Treatment. The Bled have found their ideal sound here – maintaining that brutal heaviness while implementing some experimental structures.

Opening track “Devolver” sets the stage immediately – Heat Fetish is going to specialize in scorching breakdowns executed by Talley and fellow guitarist Robbie Burbidge. Muñoz sounds rejuvenated on the mic, seamlessly transitioning from rough to clean vocals. “Mouthbreather” continues the pace, while “Running Through Walls” features an exhilarating final minute. Basically the first few songs of Heat Fetish are The Bled reminding everyone that they will kick your ass, as “Smoke Breaks” is the musically equivalent of a curb-stomping.

Heat Fetish changes up tempos a bit with “Need New Conspirators” and incorporates some southern flavor into “Needs.” The previous two Bled albums seem to have influenced “Meet Me in the Bone Orchard,” as its atmospheric verses collide with the raucous chorus. I also hear a Deftones-meets-Every Time I Die vibe on tracks like “Crowbait” and “When Exiting Your Vehicle.” The nearly six-minute closer, “Crawling Home,” is the album’s thesis statement – heavy and elemental rolled into that signature Bled sound.

With Heat Fetish, The Bled have put themselves back in the forefront of the genre. Plain and simple, this album is a dick kicker. Heat Fetish is the essential Bled record to own, as it is the quintet’s best and most consistent work to date.

Track Listing:
1. Devolver
2. Mouthbreather
3. Running Through Walls
4. Smoke Breaks
5. Need New Conspirators
6. Shouting Fire in a Crowded Room
7. Needs
8. Meet Me in the Bone Orchard
9. Crowbait
10. When Exiting Your Vehicle
11. Night Errors
12. Crawling Home
Produced by: Fernando Rivas

The Bled is:
James Muñoz – vocals
Robbie Burbidge – guitar
Brad Murray – bass
Josh Skibar – drums
Jeremy Ray Talley – guitar

Official Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/thebled); Official AP.net Profile (http://www.absolutepunk.net/thebled)

[Gautz]

Nice! :-)

[holybatmon]

I want.

[Memphis]

stoked!

[live4music]

Can't wait to give it a taste!

[Gwytherspoon]

Very excited for this, and I've loved all their albums, unlike some, so I'm in for a treat.

[Kgod]

=)

[EndSerenading]

Was never more than a casual fan but I'll certainly still check this out.

[danielineffigy]

A dick kicker?

[liquideasy]

Dude, your terminology alone is making me buy this damn album.

[kemichels]

A dick kicker?
seconded, lol

[Heroin Robot]

Love This

[RiCCioLi]

album is solid. I still dont understand why people dont enjoy LITF.

[Alex1410]

Can't wait to hear it!

[ScarletGrove]

The Bled.

[Daigle lol]

Dick kicker.. hahahaha probably the truest statement that can be made about this CD

[drudo182]

Want to hear.

[Vismund_Cygnus]

Great job with the review, Drew! I'm definitely going to pick this up tomorrow.

[FBTMOPenguins]

I would have given it a 95% but I'm quite partial to the bled as they and ETID are my personal cream of the crop for this genre. In other news the reader review scores are stupid.

[Cheesus]

early reviews ftw. stoked for tomorrow

[Romancebled]

my favorite heavy album of the year so far.

[ramomcferno]

I am highly anticipating this one!

[KingsCrossing]

Quite possibly the cheesiest opening paragraph ever.

[NateFoundGlory]

Never listened to anything by these guys. Looks like that's gonna have to change...

[the seventeenth]

can't wait to have my dick kicked.
great review, for an even greater band and album.

[onetwentyseven]

They really stepped it up with this release, and I'm really glad that losing 3/5ths of their line up didn't hurt them. Love these dudes, and they've got to be the best band on Rise.

[crowdediceb0x]

from what ive heard so far ive definitely like the past 3 albums way better. hopefully it will grow on me though. love this band though.

[JuneJuly]

I love these guys. They were so good on Projekt Revolution, I'm excited to get this.

[dietoseeyoufail]

The drum replacing is enough to not make me want to listen to this album.
They should have had a drum machine play the record. It would have had the same result.

[InBetweenAisles]

Amazing record. So intensely heavy.

[christopher™]

this album is pretty good. lost interest in this band after found in the flood.

[Mattylikesfilms]

I would have given it a 95% but I'm quite partial to the bled as they and ETID are my personal cream of the crop for this genre. In other news the reader review scores are stupid.

If The Bled and Every Time I Die went on tour together, the world would explode from awesomeness.

[Co and Ca]

will buy this the next day i'm off.

[Rob Hrx]

Never listened to these guys - the Deftones/ETID comparison definitely caught my attention though. Checking them out now...

[FBTMOPenguins]

If The Bled and Every Time I Die went on tour together, the world would explode from awesomeness.
I saw the bled and Thrice that was amazing I can only wish to see ETID and the bled to bring me out of shows retirement.

[Rob Hrx]

Yep. Pretty damn good so far.

[Mattylikesfilms]

I saw the bled and Thrice that was amazing I can only wish to see ETID and the bled to bring me out of shows retirement.

yeah after I turned 21, I turned my back to the "scene" shows haha

[Mattylikesfilms]

this album is pretty good. lost interest in this band after found in the flood.

Why do people hate that album? It's so good. All their albums are really good IMO.

But Heat Fetish is the best yet from these guys. I love it.

[FBTMOPenguins]

yeah after I turned 21, I turned my back to the "scene" shows haha
Basically the same here my last show was Bamboozle the day with Snoop after that I realized I'm just not that into it, small or large shows.

[EndSerenading]

Basically the same here my last show was Bamboozle the day with Snoop after that I realized I'm just not that into it, small or large shows.
Yea after I graduated college I started going to shows a lot less. It was a mixture of a lot of stuff:

1) Getting busier, other priorities in my life
2) Getting burned out on shows and some of the people and drama that unfortunately comes with them
3) My favorite bands starting to break up, go on hiatus, etc. as they get older
4) The most unfortunate of all..the novelty of live shows for the sake of live shows had worn off.

Don't get me wrong, this doesn't mean I don't go to shows period. In fact I saw some amazing shows last year at the age of 25 (including one in my top 5 ever), but what I mean by the novelty wearing off is that now I generally only go as a spectator if there are bands that I am really into whereas in college I would drive hours just to go to a show where I was only somewhat into the bands simply because I enjoyed the atmosphere. If that makes any sense.

Perfect example is The Bled haha. I was never a huge fan but saw them plenty of times back in HS and college.

[HaHaHA11]

good review..
I listened to this album at 300 am and i couldnt go to sleep afterwards
This album fukknn rockks!!
:explode:

[FBTMOPenguins]

Yea after I graduated college I started going to shows a lot less. It was a mixture of a lot of stuff:

1) Getting busier, other priorities in my life
2) Getting burned out on shows and some of the people and drama that unfortunately comes with them
3) My favorite bands starting to break up, go on hiatus, etc. as they get older
4) The most unfortunate of all..the novelty of live shows for the sake of live shows had worn off.

Don't get me wrong, this doesn't mean I don't go to shows period. In fact I saw some amazing shows last year at the age of 25 (including one in my top 5 ever), but what I mean by the novelty wearing off is that now I generally only go as a spectator if there are bands that I am really into whereas in college I would drive hours just to go to a show where I was only somewhat into the bands simply because I enjoyed the atmosphere. If that makes any sense.

Perfect example is The Bled haha. I was never a huge fan but saw them plenty of times back in HS and college.
There are shows I would go to I just don't have that same I HAVE TO GO mentality, so I just don't.

[miketheauthor]

So damn good. Heard it on myspace last week. Can't wait to pick it up tomorrow.

[Mattylikesfilms]

There are shows I would go to I just don't have that same I HAVE TO GO mentality, so I just don't.

same.

[EndSerenading]

There are shows I would go to I just don't have that same I HAVE TO GO mentality, so I just don't.
definitely

[Lemmi!]

they brought the heat for sure

[wakenthefallen]

album is solid. I still dont understand why people dont enjoy LITF.
second.

[CellarGhosts]

I can't wait to pick this up! Good review, Drew.

[shes.a.ghost]

I saw the bled and Thrice that was amazing I can only wish to see ETID and the bled to bring me out of shows retirement.I saw that tour. Underoath was on the bill too.

[sir-c.]

this album is freaking intense.

[BrianXalive]

If The Bled and Every Time I Die went on tour together, the world would explode from awesomeness.
They did tour together in '08. The world didn't explode, but my dick certainly did.

[ctmk]

stoked four year strong and this on the same day

[FBTMOPenguins]

I saw that tour. Underoath was on the bill too.
Yup great show top to bottom.

[SteveLikesMusic]

lol @ dick kicker

[Mattylikesfilms]

They did tour together in '08. The world didn't explode, but my dick certainly did.

really? damn.
hope it happens again!

[happygilmoreat]

Yup great show top to bottom.

And Veda too! Well I guess it's Vedera now.
That chick has an awesome voice.

[NortyCore]

solid, deffinitely a good comeback album. but the few times ive listened to it, it hasnt hit me as hard as it should have. maybe it needs to be blasted in my car.

[FBTMOPenguins]

And Veda too! Well I guess it's Vedera now.
That chick has an awesome voice.
For some reason they didn't play the NYC date I was at.

[hxchairstylist]

I agree with everything Drew, except for James being an original member. He wasn't the original vocalist.

Great album though, and I do believe it is their best.

[introduction]

Is mouthbreather a cover? Just asking coz it isn't exactly common.

[xjdizzle]

yeah after I turned 21, I turned my back to the "scene" shows haha

Yeah ive only been to 3 shows this year and I wil def goto Coheed and Alexisonfire in May.. Otherwise i cannot stand most of the new bands i used to like alot new stuff 3 years ago but after 2007 the scene has really gone to shit besides the bands weve seen stick around.I def have left Warped Tour behind now .It just isnt the same and it's overpriced and id feel weird standing by 14 year olds screaming to Nevershoutnever or worshipping some shitty generic scene band that plays the same breakdown and then does some techno passage and repeats itself and the lovely auto -tune singing..And i def wouldnt take the day off work for that and waste my money .

[manican sex]

This review is exactly what I wanted to hear.

[inertiatic_sks]

Heat Fetish is definitely album of the year material. The Bled are back in town.

[Meeze]

cant stop listening to it! sooooo good

[Poochemist]

Well I've have to get it if it's a dick kicker.

[marchofmarty]

no book came with it :(

[xjdizzle]

The Bled are back and kicking some much needed ass! Best band on Rise by miles...

[Alex1410]

This album is great, miles better than Silent Treatment

[Supernovacaine]

fav release by these guys!

[LastDeclaration]

I really like some of their songs, but most of their albums on the whole seemed pretty mediocre. I'll have to check this out.

[Cheesus]

This album is ridiculously good. Rise is Remington itself slowly.

[samchops697]

The Bled Sucks

[brandon_260]

Final listened to this. I didn't really enjoy Silent Treatment, but this album truly blew me away. "Needs" and "Meet Me In The Bone Orchard" are definitely the best tracks in my opinion

[hailjake]

very sickkkkkk

[kerropi]

I love this album soooo much!!!!!!!!!

[sean78745]

LOVED this review, you were honest, reliable but not too harsh or too enthralled, it was an unbiased REAL review, which doesn't happen often, mostly people review for the sole purpose of seeming cool or staying with the trends!

I will follow all of your reviews from now on!