Celebrating Valentine’s Day with Bleeding Through’s “NINE”

My history with Bleeding Through spans over 20 years. I was about 15 years old the first time a past acquaintance handed me one of their records. “This is Love, This is Murderous.” Released in 2003, into my hands in early 2004, this masterpiece was a monumental discovery for me, and so my fandom began. I’ve mentioned in past pieces about the first time an impressionable 19 year old Courtney met Brandan in 2009. I think that was the first time I ever interacted with someone I thought was “famous” and I’m still slightly embarrassed at my reaction from back then. I didn’t expect him to be as kind as he was. I was reminded of this kindness a few years ago, after I once again ran into him outside of a venue. 

“Thank you for the music and just… everything. You changed my life.”

With that kind of impact, it’s no surprise that I have each record at this point. Some special editions, a live Trustkill DVD of a full performance that my husband found for me at Zia Records. So many things. A Bleeding Through sticker has been placed on the bottom center back window of my car since I started driving. I was also overzealous maybe when 2018’s “Love Will Kill All” was announced, I preordered a special shirt/signed poster bundle, and then I forgot about ordering it…and I ordered it again. (Pretty sure I have some ADHD but I digress.) I now have two beautifully signed posters protected in a tube waiting to be framed. My love for this band is so intense that I’m seriously debating on getting the heart and dagger or the BT logo that’s on newer merch tattooed onto the top of my hand. Not even kidding. 

What I have always loved about Bleeding Through is the fact that they are so different from every other band in the metalcore genre. Heavier than a lot of those bigger main bands, but too technical and melodic to fit into deathcore. I could go on and on about this stuff but let’s get into this record since that’s why we’re here. 

Current lineup

• Brandan Schieppati – lead vocals 
• Derek Youngsma – drums, percussion 
• Marta Demmel – keyboards, vocals 
• Ryan Wombacher – bass 
• John Arnold – guitar 
• Brandon Richter – guitar 

It’s Valentine’s Day 2025, and Bleeding Through released their latest album, “NINE” today. Now, I did a full read through of the press release when I got the email for this album, and right off the bat, I couldn’t be more excited to listen. Having seen them twice in Los Angeles within the last year and a half, I was fully prepared for Bleeding Through to bring the goods. And bring the goods they did! 

Favorite tracks, “Our Brand is Chaos” and “I Am Resistance”  are relentless in their delivery, and I love the guest vocals by Comeback Kid’s Andrew Neufeld. What an incredible contrast of intensity. Feelings of entrancement provoked on “Lost in Isolation”, where Brandan and Marta really showcase the depth of their chemistry as bandmates. I also just generally love that we’re hearing her voice more on this record. Her keys play a huge part in the melodic and dramatization of their sound in general, and her beautiful voice added an extra layer to that. I remember not too long ago when they released “Dead But So Alive”; and you bet your ass I was sitting here just banging my head in excitement. 

The closing track, “Unholy Armada” intensifies the listening experience on this one unlike anything I’ve heard of theirs in the past. 

“We constantly destroy each other, always seeking more and more. Parasitic insecurities, we look to the sky, drop our knees to the floor.”

These lyrics hit you like a freight train, much like life seems to have done to a lot of us. The music beautifully and in a more uplifting tone, fades out. End record. Perfection.

Overall, as a fan, there is zero disappointment with this record for me and they get a flying colors perfect rating from me. The chemistry and artistry can be felt within this release, which again is pretty obvious with Brandan & Marta, Derek and Ryan are also generally long term pieces of the formation, add in Brandon and John and I’d say this is the most solid I’ve ever heard them. This can also be SEEN in their live performances- I’ve seen this myself a few times, in Los Angeles and Anaheim in 2023, (I was so upset I couldn’t make it out to the 2024 Anaheim show). And that set they played here in Vegas in 2022 at Brooklyn Bowl shook me and made me so happy to just be a fan still after all these years. Cue my dorky 19 year old weird energy. 

If you’ve kept up with the band like I have, you’ve already seen that they’ve said this is 25 years in the making. Through all these years, Bleeding Through have stayed true to themselves, going against the grain, creating heavy, and intensely beautiful music- and they’ve done so mostly on their own terms. They are unlike any of their peers in the genre, and it’s not something that should be glossed over. They prove over and over again that they are a powerhouse of brutal emotion.

If you’re a fan already, you’re likely going to really enjoy this record. If you enjoy melodic black metal inspired hardcore elements, you’ll also likely enjoy this record. Go take a listen, hit up your favorite record store, or head on over to Sharptone and place that order!

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PHOTO CREDIT: Live photos by Courtney Ware, taken for Bleeding Through (c) 2022 – (c) 2023 – All Rights Reserved.