Description
Ive lost my sense, Ive lost control, Ive lost my mind! Yeah, we all know how the song goes, but those words will no doubt end up driving their point home throughout the duration of Bloodstains self-titled debut LP. This thoroughly-welcome Euro pressing follows the albums DIY release earlier in 2024, which is excellent news for UK/mainland fans of early 80s SoCal hardcore whove yet to hear it – the whole thing absolutely fkn rips.
Feel free to rifle through your Adolescents, Weirdos and (natch) Agent Orange records to see what these guys have been mining, but all youll find is a launchpad – Bloodstains inevitably hail from California and theyre clearly au fait with all the above (not to mention a certain compilation), but they manage to inhabit that sound with a personality all of their own. Vocalist Cesar Marin splits his delivery between a sneering bark (like the most withering put-downs youve ever heard being delivered via nailgun) and a purposeful, melodic croon which itself sounds its made from sandpaper and vitriol, but there you go.
Most importantly, this is a band with SONGS. Eight of em here, to be precise, and youll rarely have been so glad to have something turned up so loud it blows holes in your speakers. Stray Bullets hangs its mighty chorus on a call-and-response refrain that dares you not to pick a side and bellow along, while instrumental opener The Last Rites sets you up perfectly for the seething, volatile bundle of hooks to follow. Id say the interplay between the bands string-wielding Espinoza contingent is something to behold as well, but what am I, some kinda nerd? The guitars sound fkn awesome – thatll do ya. And I dont wanna spoil the party ahead of time, but just wait til you hear future anthem Public Hanging.
I could go on about this record all day, but ultimately all you need to do is listen to it. Hell, even buy it. And dare I return to a theme, lose your mind.
- Label: Drunken Sailor Records
- Format Type: 12″
- Year: 2024
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