Bleeding Through


Bleeding Through are a band that should need little introduction. After all, their latest release 'The Truth' has received well-deserved glowing reviews all over the world (metal mag Kerrang described it as an album which is about to "tear 2006 a new arsehole"). My first impression was that the record's sound seemed accentuated in every way to give it more of a "in your face" feel; something which guitarist Brian Leppke explains was the plan from the start.

"We wanted to make an album which was different but not forced at all; we just kind of let the music write itself. We wanted to avoid writing another Swedish metal riff album like too many bands seem to be doing now, so we went with something new."

And that's exactly what they have created. Famous for producing albums by Cradle Of Filth and A Life Once Lost, producer (and former Anthrax guitarist) Rob Caggiano was instrumental in constructing this more extreme sound, as Leppke explains.

"Rob was awesome to work with; he's a good producer and he knew how to make our sound on the album cleaner, crisper but also a lot dirtier as well. Unfortunately, we had a lot of interruptions that sucked. We had to tour a fair bit and also Rob got real sick at one point, we had something like a month and a half off, which wasn't easy - but we still got there."

The new extreme sound on 'The Truth' includes some guest vocalists, namely Tiger Army's Nick 13 and Soilent Green's Ben Falgoust. Since the band's own voice were certainly strong enough on the new album, I asked Leppke why they decided to include these guests. "Well, we were going for a wide range of vocals and music on this album, pushing every part of it to extremes, so having some guest vocals was a cool idea. Nick and Ben are good friends of ours and have amazing voices, it seemed like something different and we were pretty happy with how it came out."

Bleeding Through also recorded a cover song recently for the newest 'Punk Goes...' compilation. The as-yet-unreleased 'Punk Goes 90s' features the band covering Stars by HUM. I asked Leppke the song had any significance to the band. "Well, we were given a list and it was the only song we knew and kind of liked. We really wanted to cover something by Alice In Chains or someone cool like that, but it wasn't on the list. So we did the HUM song, but it's pretty similar to the original."

Bleeding Through are quick to return to our shores to promote their new album after only being here late last year (as captured on their DVD 'Wolves Among Sheep'). Last time they were here they toured with Parkway Drive and I thought it was a good opportunity to ask how Leppke felt about Australia, Australians and the 'Drive's brand of Australian metalcore. Seemingly, his sentiments could be summed up as "awesome".

"We love Australia," Leppke enthuses. "We did so much touristy stuff when we were there and it was so awesome! We went to beaches and surfing, saw koalas, it was cool. We hung out with Parkway Drive a fair bit; we don't usually get to do that on tour so it was awesome. Those guys are really big at the moment which is cool and they are really nice guys. The beaches in Australia are so warm and Australians are really awesome, we can't wait to get back."

Touring has taken over Bleeding Through's schedule lately. Having just returned from a very successful US tour with friends Every Time I Die, they're set to tour Australia and then leave almost instantly to the UK to play Download Festival with the likes of Metallica, Tool and Guns 'N' Roses - and after that tour, they are off to play Ozzfest. I was curious as to how he felt about such a hectic international tour schedule, not to mention playing with such incredible bands.

"It's awesome, dude. I would have never thought that this band would have ever got this far. Metallica are a big influence for us so it's cool to be on the same tour as them; and although we don't play the same day as them, we play with Tool which is still amazing. And I think we are playing with Disturbed and Black Sabbath during Ozzfest which is awesome:;it's still really hard to believe."

Will Oakeshott

.

dB Magazine proudly present Bleeding Through at Fowler's Live on Wed 24 May with Carpathian.