There is nothing entirely special about Greensboro, N.C.'s
Bloodjinn's metalcore sound on This Machine Runs on Empty,
however there's not much to complain about either. Featuring
former He Is Legend guitarist McKenzie Bell, the band now
has a stable lineup after several changes and seems poised
to make a name for themselves with this new release.
Everything is here that you would associate with the metalcore
sound, save an abundance of clean vocal choruses. The vocals
of frontman Joel Collins are anything but clean, though the
band would benefit from more variety in the vocal department.
The opener, “In the First Degree” is a ball-buster,
chugging along and setting the stage for this ultra-heavy
assault. A certain sense of melody is present in the guitar
harmonies, making songs more memorable. Trivium's Ascendancy album may be the closest comparison both in tempo and
vocal style. The ever-present breakdowns are in abundance,
but they are some of the most vicious ones you'll hear. “Truth
Within” features a monstrous riff and a breakdown that
could have been on Vulgar Display of Power or the
next As I Lay Dying album.
Now for the few complaints. There is little variation within
the album's 10 songs. This works two ways. There is a truckload
of badass riffs on the record, but reach a high point and
never evolve thereafter. Another drawback is the lack of originality.
I'm almost certain if Bloodjinn walk unannounced through my
front door right now, set up their equipment and started playing,
I'd be hard-pressed to know who they are.
However, if you’re tired of the current influx of metalcore
bands and are looking for the “next big thing,”
then Bloodjinn, with improved vocals and more diverse songwriting,
could be it. For now, This Machine Runs on Empty is a solid effort that should at least give the band minor
recognition. |
