I NEVER THOUGHT I’D SAY THIS, BUT: MARTA IS NOW SOMEHOW THE WORST THING ABOUT BLEEDING THROUGH

When writing about a new Bleeding Through track called “Goodbye to Death” a few weeks ago, I noted that “I don’t find this band quite as irritating as I did even just a few years ago.” And now, having heard the entirety of their new album, The Great Fire, I can reaffirm this assessment. Bleeding Through are bad in a way which, by 2012 standards, seems quaint — adorable, even. The Great Fire isn’t good, but it’s not the worst album you’ll hear this year, or even this week; BT are gonna party like it’s 2005, and some people will find that really appealing, and good for them.

In fact, the album’s biggest weak spot is that very thing which I used to find Bleeding Through’s sole source of appeal — namely, keyboardist Marta Peterson.

Her synths on The Great Fire sound really, really, REALLY out of place with the rest of the music. Like, to a degree where if you told me that they were actually recorded for a completely different album, I’d believe you. They’re cheesy and ostentatious and distracting as hell, and if I liked Bleeding Through I’d probably be bummed, because otherwise, The Great Fire might be a perfectly serviceable slice of metalcore nostalgia.

That being said, I’m sure in a live setting Ms. Peterson is still the best thing about the band. Because if I have to look at her or Brandan Schieppati, well, that’s no contest. So, y’know. All is forgiven.

The Great Fire comes out tomorrow on Rise Records, but you can now stream it in full here. Please do so, and then tell me if I’m right or wrong or whatever the hell it is you people babble on and on about in our comments section. I dunno, I’m usually too drunk to care.

-AR