Single Review: Darkness Falls

Back in 2003 I was helping out at the now defunct Brewers Bar in Mount Maunganui.

Fresh to NZ I was keen to see what music was on offer. Every Friday and Saturday I would hang out pretending to know how to operate the lighting rig as bands including The Mint Chicks (blew my mind), Foamy Ed, Goodnight Nurse, and just about every other band around at the time shared some amazing times.

One band arrived from West Auckland and became a firm favourite. Bleeders looked great and had the musical chops to go with the attitude. It was my first introduction to a largely straight edge crowd and over the next few years the punk infused hard rock sound created by Angelo and the guys became a soundtrack to my life, along with many others.

Unfortunately, as many of the best bands do, they disappeared just as they seemed to be on top of their game.

Now after a few one off recent live performances we have new single Darkness Falls, the first new recording from Bleeders in 12 years and a taster from their upcoming EP Delusions, which is coming soon on the equally legendary ElevenFiftySeven records.

The track is going to be a hot burrowing earworm for any existing fans. Fast paced and anthemic with a melody that will melt radio station pluggers earholes; this is classic Bleeders

It punches hard and the in-your-face chorus is going to be a sing-a-long-a-thon at any upcoming gigs.

It may have taken 12-years but Darkness Falls isn’t a last minute grab at nostalgia. It sounds fresh and Angelo’s vocals especially still have the urgency and passionate delivery that make Bleeders stand out

It’s 2019 and we need Bleeders more than ever. If Darkness Falls is a taster of what is to come then we are in for a treat.

Great band, great tune, it’s great to have them back.