Blood Ties - Blood Ties
by James

There are three basic groups that will buy this album. Die hard hardcore kids, metal kids that like some hardcore bands and people that have somehow never heard a hardcore band in their life. If you fall into the first two categories, this album is a no-brainer for you. Bloodties has managed to deliver a quality hardcore album in the vein of Hatebreed and Buried Alive with this self-titled disk. I don't have to tell you why this record is good, because you probably already know. The third group, however, might need a little coaxing, because I know people are hard headed and scared to try new things.

Let's look at where Bloodties is coming from, first. I can't imagine there is anyone that is into heavy music that has not heard Hatebreed, but for the sake of this review, I am going to assume you haven't. The sound you get from this album is reminiscent of Slayer stripped down its barest, most essential elements mixed with vocals so abrasive, they will strip the skin from your ears if you aren't prepared. Now, when I say essential elements, I am not kidding. All the slow parts are gone. All the little interludes and transitions are gone. What is left would almost be considered thrash if not for the very punkish backbeat of the drums. No, all the thrash elements reside in the guitars. Braxton and Ronny absolutely shred for this album's entire fifteen-minute run. When you think about it, none of this should work, but it does. You've got thrash guitars without double bass, punk drums with intricate guitar riffs and searing, angry vocals thrown over the top of all of it. At first listen, these guys sound like a lot of other bands doing this same style of music. It took me several listens to see how different what Bloodties is doing really is. You don't normally listen to a hardcore CD expecting to be impressed by the riffs. It's just not something that happens, very often.

The only complaint I could make about this CD, is it would be nice to see these guys put together some longer songs, even though I know keeping it short and simple is a staple of this style of music. I honestly think that Bloodties could pull it off without losing the heart of what they are doing. Mostly it is just that some of the riffs are so cool, you hate to see them come and go, so quickly. Apart from that, any other things I would change would really end up taking away from what makes this band so unique in the first place. In other words, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.