Audio By Carbonatix
When Tucson’s The Bled recorded their first full-length for Fiddler Records, Pass the Flask, vocalist James Muñoz had just replaced the band’s former singer and had mere days to familiarize himself with the songs. Nonetheless, Pass the Flask was a masterpiece of screaming, growling heaviness, a blend of mathematical metal, hardcore and screamo stylings that gained The Bled a national following, and, eventually, a deal with indie monolith Vagrant Records. The resulting first LP for Vagrant, Found in the Flood, actually one-ups Pass the Flask. The Tucsonans have made their melodies a bit more obvious amongst the maelstrom of Jeremy Talley and Ross Ott’s guitar slaying. Muñoz has really come into his own vocally, showing a depth of range and control that wasn’t quite there on the previous record. From the opening blisters of “Hotel Coral Essex” to the epic finale, “I Don’t Keep With Liars Anymore,” Found in the Flood is a landmark mélange of all things hard and heavy.
