Northlane - Bloodline

Key Facts

Country: 🇦🇺

Genre: Metalcore, Progressive, Nu-metal (influenced)

Release Date: 30th April 2019

Record Label(s): UNFD

Highest Chart Position: N/A

Album Release Date: 2nd August 2019

Band Members:

Jon Deiley – lead guitar, programming

Josh Smith – rhythm guitar

Nic Pettersen – drums, percussion

Marcus Bridge – lead vocals 

Brendon Padjasek – bass, backing vocals 

Music Video

Review
Rating (out of 5🤘): 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

My favourite progressive Aussie boys are back with crushing new single Bloodline! Granted it's been a while since I listened to Northlane but yet again they have shown me why they are a phenomenal power in progressive metalcore and why I need to go back to them. One thing I love about Northlane is they never settle, every release has been different yet still consistent with the Northlane sound.

Bloodline offers a lot of contrast and layers working dynamically with each other to create a ball busting, face screwing banger. While I'd consider previous single Vultures as more traditional Northlane, Bloodline shows some experimental electronic flairs that the band have been messing with since 2015's Node. I feel that the band have let it develop and grow organically and it's definitely starting to pay off. Northlane have always written great intros to phenomenal build ups and Bloodline is no different. Saturated in atmospheric synths and grungy guitar tones, alongside Vultures the Northlane sound is getting another regeneration for this album it seems.

Musically, its the electronic elements that really catch my ear. The synth melodies seamlessly gliding in and out really add depth to the song and make the guitars sound even bigger and more aggressive , especially when the song gets into the main chorus sections. The song is very Deftones like in its approach, with it's slower clean vocal sections which then ramp up into the heavier sections. There is a very present nu-metal influence in there for sure.

In these last two singles Marcus's vocals have gotten stronger in my opinion, I love them anyway but there seems to be so much more aggression and precision in them now. Don't get me started on the break down though, damn, if that doesn't make you want to disrespect your surroundings then jeez! The video is pretty hard hitting, but it only reflects the imagery Marcus shows us in the lyrics. There is definitely something personal behind this and the passion oozes out of Marcus in the vocals. Whilst the band have haven't stated anything about what it's about like Whitechapel did with The Valley it still packs a punch even without the in depth meaning. Production wise, it sounds huge, which is stereotypical of Northlane and I expect nothing less to be honest. Everything from the effects processing to the drum EQ is seamless, I will consider referencing the electronics in my future projects as something stands out to me on this one that I haven't quite worked out yet.

This song is so catchy, it's an instant summer jam and I'm going to be singing it in my head for weeks I can tell. It's packed full of groove and menace and I have a feeling that this album will be unlike anything that Northlane have done before and I'm really looking forward to it!