July 19, 2007 Soulbleed Slays the Whiskey / All Access Magazine
By Maya Dawn Henderson Photos Marisa Portilla
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You know that phenomenon when a band is on the tip of everyone’s tongue ~ the “buzz band”? Well, I’m sure the next group to worm its way into the collective conscious will be Soulbleed, a small but powerful thash ‘wonder’ band out of the Inland Empire. Energetic, exuberant and impressive are but three adjectives to describe the 2007 breakout band.
At the Whiskey on Sunset Strip on June 21st, they played a fast, short, brutal thrashcore set with tunes that were played with precision and more than a little energy.
The music was heavy yet fun and the band seemed to be having a really good time which always makes a show more enjoyable. The Soulbleed band members are; Steve Marshall on lead guitar, Elaina Bangma on bass, Josh Kane on drums and Dave Rubenhold on the mic. Soulbleed plays post-thrash metal. It has hardcore elements of course, that combined with some guitar solos, ferocious vocals and moshing riffs - make a great style of thrash-groove metal that would cover tastes from old school aficionados to newer hardcore kids. Their draw at the Whiskey was living proof of this. Beginning with Thorn In My Side, a straight thrasher that featured doom laden riffs, mixed with hedonistic abandon to create a weighty tome of eclecticism that will scorch your brain to a crisp, they immediately seized the attention of everyone there. Despite a half-full venue, the band managed to whip up an impressively frenzied mosh pit pretty much from the first song onward.
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They were confident. In fact they stormed the stage with the confidence of a band who knows they are contenders, even if not everyone in the metal world has yet noticed. In harsh tones of deliberate rage, they announced their presence between songs, but the rest of the time they skipped the periphery and played like madmen. They were there for the attack, and they delivered it. They played their tune Punishment next with that good old-fashioned thrash beat dominating the verses, showcasing the gruff, powerful voice of vocalist Dave Rubenhold. The Pantera influences were no doubt, intentional.
Their title track Inpersonization of Life had my attention from the first feedback wail and crunchy riff, whilst infusing huge amounts of brutality, laced with just the right amount of melody to keep things stuck in your head. They kept a firm grip on it with the next tune New Order, with guitars blazing simple but effective riffs. Execution wise, this piece was very good. They have songwriting skills for sure. Soulbleed combines mid to late 90's alternative metal with a modern Mastodon-like atmosphere. This band will manage a tempo change without an eyebrow flicker, and then at exactly the moment when it’s least convenient, add a flourish of rage in a gesture or the proud indomitable stab of a guitar. Their short set ended with a song called Drenched In Sorrow. It was equally thrash and had an excellent verse that just demands head-banging to ensue. These guys are obviously very serious about their art and clearly should not be grouped in with the stereotypical Ozzfesters of the late 90's, however, the educated listener will be able to conclude that a large portion of their influence comes from early 90's mainstream metal sound. It ends up sounding quite amazing to tell you the truth. Sounding like a mix of late 90’s Testament and Iced Earth, with some excellent old-school Metallica-ish solos.
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The truth is Soulbleed is better than most, adding super-catchy lines and hardcore drumming, this group kicks the bouncy segments in the teeth and gives the aggressive side a big chance. Clearly the metal scene is noticing, Soulbleed. For tour dates check the bands website, The magic is there. www.soulbleedarmy.com www.myspace.com/soulbleedarmy
~ Maya Dawn Henderson ~