Review of Bhelliom - Within Nowhere

I’m not exactly sure what led me towards this album, since I’m not really a big fan of modern melodic death metal. However, the sample track was similar enough to Swansong era Carcass that I couldn’t resist checking this out. Yes indeed, I adore Swansong just as much as the rest of those British grinders’ catalogue. What I hear from Bhelliom is quality melodic death metal that draws some influences from the Swedish scene but doesn’t rehash or thoroughly imitate the Gothenburg sound. Bhelliom are unique enough to be interesting and I’m going to recommend them to anybody who likes a bit of melody alongside their brutality.

One thing that stands out about this release are the riffs. There are the typical melodic death metal ones that I have mentioned, but the ones that I found especially compelling were the more blues-influenced ones that pop up here and there. The compositions are quite well put together, and I feel that Bhelliom really have a knack for juxtaposing riffs in a pleasing fashion; even when transitioning between sludgy blues and frantic thrash riffing, the band maintains a sense of uniformity. Throw in some fucking fantastic soloing, and I’m ready to hand Bhelliom a high score in songwriting.

I think it is quite obvious that Bhelliom have strong musicianship; even the most turgid bands of this genre are technically gifted. The band is tight, and though their level of skill is not jaw-dropping, it is high. The vocalist appeals to me simply because his sneering growls remind me so much of Carcass’ vocals. Oh, and the production is of good quality, though the guitars could be a tiny bit higher in the mix, this being a very minor quibble.

Bhelliom’s style is a striking and refreshing counterpoint to the stale, shitty melodic death seeping out of garages across the United States and elsewhere. If you still have hope for the genre, consider giving this band a listen.

Release Details

Bhelliom

Within Nowhere

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