BRIDEAR – Born Again
Release Date: 28th June 2024
Label: Psychomanteum Records
Stream
Genre: Heavy Metal, Power Metal.
FFO: Lovebites, Mary’s Blood, Aldious, Fate Gear, Band Maid, Unlucky Morpheus.
Review By: Mark Waight
BRIDEAR are currently my favourite Japanese Metal band, and their latest release, Born Again, indeed cements their place in my heart for the foreseeable future. If you have not heard of BRIDEAR before, you soon will have, as Born Again is destined to introduce them to a much wider audience and the whole world stage. Like all Japanese bands, BRIDEAR are outstanding individual musicians, but in addition to me, they also have a bit more bite and grit too, which is sure to go down a treat with western audiences.
BRIDEAR is Kimi (vocals), Haru (bass), Ayumi (guitar), Natsumi (drums) and Moe (guitar).
Still Burning gets the show on the road in raucous style with a blend of harsh and clean vocals and a burning hot pace that just doesn’t let up from start to finish. Following closely behind is the riff heavy Braver Words, which drops things up and down through the gears with well-oiled machine precision – sweet guitar solo, too!
Title track Born Again adds something a little difference to the mix with a more alternative sound and some super dreamy harmonious vocals. Mighty fine modern metal! With our nose to the grindstone once again, Cult reintroduces some harsher vocals back into this superior quality blend of Power Metal. Very tasty!
Slightly slower with crystal clear vocals, Empty Mind is a welcome distraction to the listener after such a frantic opening. The depth of sound is phenomenal and an absolute listening pleasure to your ears. Scar Of Reunion is an epic tune delivered with all the speed of a bullet train as the pedal firmly hits the metal once again. The musicianship and craft are second to none and is just so typical what we come to expect of bands hailing from the land of the rising sun.
Real is Real is a proper old school Heavy Metal tune with a deep bass riff and finger numbing guitar play, all delivered with heart and passion. Hot on its heels, in the same vein, Fight is Down gives another nod to the old days with BRIDEAR adding their own unique groove and twist to proceedings this time out.
Penultimate track No Angels is probably one of my favourite tracks on the album, with an almost Symphonic Metal air about it that demonstrates yet another weapon in BRIDEAR’s arsenal. One to bear in mind for future releases. If we are going to Die Like This then we may as well go out in style and indeed we do with BRIDEAR playing us out to a very fitting climax. The spot-on finish leaves you totally shell shocked and begging for an encore.
BRIDEAR’s mission statement for Born Again was to deliver a raw and unapologetic pure Heavy Metal album, well, as far as I am concerned, job done!! Born Again should indeed propel BRIDEAR onto further critical acclaim and widen their fanbase significantly with its no holds barred attitude and sheer hard hitting metal clout. BRIDEAR’s album Born Again is certainly more than worthy of checking out and adding to your music playlist, very highly recommended.
(4 / 5)
