BRIDEAR will be born again this summer June 28th thanks to legendary producer Fredrik Nordström.
Fredrik is the magician behind legendary bands such as In Flames, At the Gates, HammerFall, Dimmu Borgir, Arch Enemy, Obscura, Opeth and Bring Me the Horizon.
Moe, Haru, Kimi, Ayumi and Natsumi were brought from their home town of Fukuoka, Japan, all the way across to Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden in order to take the quintet out of their comfort zone and see what they could capture half way across the world.
And what they have captured is safe to say, POWERFULL!
Right out of the cage with an ear drum blast of toms and crashes we get right into the action on this new album from BRIDEAR with Still Burning and a solo that could have been visualised as part of a Van Halen track if you were to isolate it. The single from this new incredible album and not only that, but we also get a music video to accompany this 100mph track. Recorded in Sweden with the grammy award winning Patric Ullaeus.
It looks like having Bridear over this side of the world means nothing but positivity and an upwards projection for their future. During the recording process, members of HammerFall even stopped by to show their support and there was even help with production of the album from members of Dream Evil. The album even features a guest vocal appearance by Dream Evil singer Nick Night on the closing track “Die Like This”.
The girls must have “got the goo” as we say here in Dublin, or in easier terms, been infiltrated by the Nordic Heavy Metal vibes, as just 4 weeks ago the SUKIYAKI SISTERS have posted an incredible medley of some top Swedish and Nordic metal tracks ahead of the release of the new album which you can check out below. The influences of these tracks can certainly be heard across the album.
Back into it with track number two on the album and Braver Words kicking me bloody teeth in with a beginning that leads you to believe Joey Jordison and Mick Thomson are attacking you. Vol 3-Subliminal versus springs to mind for some reason with that guitar tone. But again we come back with those guitar solos. Something so melodic and beautiful about how they write their solos. It’s like, amongst the chaos and anger there is some beauty hidden and we are souring with the strings.
Second song in and I’m seeing a pattern with some very catchy choruses. I don’t speak Japanese but I’m almost singing along.
The title track Born Again drops and I’m starting to see what this band is about. These are serious fucking musicians. That phaser opening riff is grabbing me like a giants claw and I am sucked in for this ride! You gota come along with me because this is a journey and a half! And only track number 3!
“Empty Mind” dropping out at at 02:33 with a subtle scream in the background into a palm muted tasty riff that gets the head bouncing and the lips tightening up into your typical good riff face, to suggest “Hell fucking yes”. With a religious-esque choir vocalisation in the back of that riff, I’m being pulled into an almost TOOL like vibe and can picture the darkness being created by this whole vibe. Bringing in those double kicks with, yet again, a beautiful solo and an excellent show of skill. Towards the end when the all together now “woah oh’s” came in, which may I add, feels like its slightly bursting out of the Metal / Jrock genre and entering an indie Rock vibe (No complaints here), I was hoping we would fall back into that face squishing riff drop, and I was not disappointed. Although I totally would have enjoyed a self indulgent fade out with some more bars on this section. Maybe we can expect that live? So far, this track is my fav and I’d take this as the single any day.
Scar Of Reunion pulls us back into the Japanese Power Metal vibes that we felt comfortable in. But don’t get too comfortable because this album seems to throw you all over the shop.
When submerging myself in this album I’m trying to get a deep understanding for the path, but I feel like I keep going on little side quests here and there, which I will continually say yes to, mind you.
One moment I am listening to pure Japanese Power Metal and then the next I’m in with some heavy metal and then all of a sudden I’m over in England feeling some old school NWOBHM. Real Is Real for example, I’m met with this blistering riff and then here I am listening to some Trash Metal with some beautiful pitch harmonics and face melting snare.
Fight it Down smashing through the door with what could be some riffs that are best friends with Iron Maiden and Saxon. The sound is so familiar but also just taking on a life of its own and I owe that all to Kimi reminding me that this is a Japanese Power Metal band. But not just because the lyrics are, for the most part, in Japanese. But this whole album is standing apart because of the slight genre bouncing, epic guitar solos switching back and forth between the SUKIYAKI SISTERS, duuurty riffage and beautiful harmonising voices between the girls, not to forget the guttural screams from Haru on bass.
I think it’s definitely safe to say that a new era for BRIDEAR has only just begun.
Born Again” is to be released worldwide June 28th, 2024 on Psychomanteum Records and I cannot wait to have this blaring in the car on the way to work at 8am in the morning to start my day lol, and I recommend you do the same.
BORN AGAIN TRACK LISITING
Still Burning
Braver Words
Born Again
Cult
Empty Mind
Scar Of Reunion
Real Is Real
Fight It Down
No Angels
Die Like This
Order now at the official Psychomanteum Record store – www.psychoshop.net
6 out of 10 stars for this face melter !
Reviewer Carl Foran – @carlforanphotography