Texas In July – “Bloodwork” [Album Review]

To be perfectly honest, I have found everything that Texas In July released prior to this album to be utterly generic metalcore. That said, after two long and confusing years, a few major lineup changes, and a lot of metal, Texas In July is back with a vengeance. Bloodwork, their spanking new release, and first to feature vocalist J.T. Cavey and lead guitarist Cam Welsh, marks the beginning of a new chapter for this group; this release easily stands out high above the rest.

Bloodwork opens with the track “Broken Soul” and, backed by bouncy riffing that is more technical than one would expect from the band, J.T. immediately demonstrates his immense vocal range. “Sweetest Poison”, the very next song, is incredibly catchy, and features a chorus where J.T. again shocks us all by proving his cleans kick just as much ass as his screams. With a constantly changing tempo, this song, as a reflection of the entire album, is devoid of a dull moment.

The catchy hooks continue throughout, especially on “Nooses,” a song that is as heavy as it is addicting, with riffs that are winding, groovy, and layered over energetic drums. Moreover, “Nooses” also proves that breakdowns still rock! The title track, “Bloodwork,” has it all – chugs, sweet bass licks, shout-along lyrics, and even an epic guitar solo – and rightfully earns its title.

Bloodwork is an album about self-discovery, and with this release, it seems that Texas In July have really come into their own. They’ve grown into an immensely talented, capable, and innovative metal act, one which I am very happy to say, I no longer consider to be “basic bitches”.

Track Listing:

01. Broken Soul
02. Sweetest Poison
03. Pseudo Self
04. Defenseless
05. The Void (ft. Levi Benton)
06. Inner Demons
07. Decamilli
08. Nooses
09. The Tightrope
10. Illuminate
11. Bloodwork

Run Time: 41:35
Release Date: September 16, 2014

Check out the song “Broken Soul”