Hailing from Sydney, Australia, melodic metalcore band Bloom introduces their first album with Pure Noise Records, Maybe In Another Life. While there are undoubtedly some standout tracks on here, they are easy to overlook on first listen. Many of the songs flip flop between exactly the kind of quality melodic hardcore the scene is lacking in, and those sounding like filler tracks from a 2010s metalcore album. 

In regards to vocals, the screams definitely outshine the cleans—and when one of the two can emote so much more effectively than the other, it can cause parts of the record to feel like an anticlimactic roller coaster. There is a plethora of burly, breakneck yet melodic riffs throughout the album that are highly reminiscent of Counterparts, and they successfully underline the striking delivery of the screams. 

However, when the run-of-the-mill cleans come in, the riffs are toned down as the vocals struggle to maintain the raucous energy. The title track, “Siren Song”, and “Bound To Your Whispers” all exemplify this. If you’re going to throw that many clean vocals into screamy hardcore music, you need a memorable hook to make it worthwhile. Otherwise, they should be held off until the softer parts.

The short but sweet “Laughing Stock” is the only track that uses solely heavy vocals, and while it only needs one minute to prove what beautiful melodic hardcore the band is capable of, it is a shame it’s not longer. Following track “An Exit” makes it just over two minutes before reverting back to the lackluster melodies, and every moment before and after that is a glorious cacophony of soaring riffs and screeching dissonance creating a stormy turbulence.

Maybe In Another Life wisely saves some of the best moments for last with the closing track “Through The Threshold, Beyond The Bend”. Clean vocals serve the song better for this one as they bridge the build-up between soft spoken word and a tear-jerking hybrid of spoken word and screams. The instrumentals go full throttle for an epic finish of titanic melancholy, leaving the album on a high note.

While Bloom’s passion and talent are undeniable, the stale metalcore tropes mixed into Maybe In Another Life take away from the aspects that could have made it a masterpiece. As the band is still early in their career, it could either be exciting or disappointing to see where they go from here.

Buy the album here:
https://purenoise.bandcamp.com/album/maybe-in-another-life

7 / 10
COLLEEN KANOWSKY