Founded in Fukuoka in 2011, BRIDEAR’s line-up has been characterised by a constant flux. Of course, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing; new blood can rejuvenate a group and add fresh impetus, but on the flip side it can also stall a band’s progress and lead to a stuttering progression. With their current incarnation, you feel that BRIDEAR have finally found their fit and it’s a line-up that shone on recent live outing Aegis Of London…Live! (reviewed here). However, it is on record where a metal band really cut it, so the band’s fifth full-length Born Again comes laden with expectation. Rising to the challenge, BRIDEAR have produced an album that stands as a career best and should win the band a host of accolades.
For this record BRIDEAR relocated to Studio Fredman in Sweden and hooked up with legendary producer Fredrik Nordström (At The Gates, In Flames), so the scene was set for a grandiose statement, and that’s precisely what opening shot ‘Still Burning’ serves up. Attesting to a sense of urgency, there’s no time to waste on fancy introductions or other such niceties, just a smoking guitar riff that wails like a warning siren to herald the arrival of ‘Still Burning’ and then the band are off, doing what they do best, getting their heads down to deliver a full-on metal fest. Guitarist Moe is the band’s newest member (having joined in 2022) and she’s certainly made her presence felt. Along with Ayumi she’s created a tag team who could rival Maiden’s Murray and Smith, and throughout Born Again they riff in tandem and dual solos which makes for an air guitar inducing affair.
The album’s title alludes to a moment of rebirth, and while there’s been no radical departure to the band’s modus operandi, the overall aesthetic to this offering is far darker than anything that’s come before. Nordström’s production has turned BRIDEAR into a heavier beast and even when the band slow down, such as on ‘Empty Mind’, they retain a sound that bears down upon the listener with some force. Great emphasis has been placed upon Natsumi’s drums (which, of course, is a good thing) ensuring cuts such as ‘Real Is Real’ pack the requisite punch. While Nordström has brought a new dimension to the band’s sound, he’s been wise enough to leave their core intact and their trademark melodic sensibility is very much intact meaning that ‘No Angels’ is a song you can dance and mosh to (and possibly both at the same time).
Those already familiar with BRIDEAR will be aware of their dual vocal attack; lead vocalist Kimi’s angelic tones are accentuated by bassist Haru’s demonic growl and the two combine to make an arresting experience. However, for final track ‘Die Like This’ BRIDEAR are joined by Dream Evil singer Nick Night for a sonic assault that takes things into overdrive, landing the final blows on an album that leaves the listener battered and bruised (but in the best possible way).
After several spins I’m pleased to report that Born Again is the type of album that will reveal it’s delights over time. This isn’t a sugar fix of an album, rather it is built for the long haul as nuances buried in the mix will reveal themselves on repeat plays. This album proves that BRIDEAR are indeed born again, but they never really died.
- Born Again is released via Psychomanteum Records on 28th June 2024.
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Track List:
- Still Burning
- Braver Words
- Born Again
- Cult
- Empty Mind
- Scar Of Reunion
- Real Is Real
- Fight It Down
- No Angels
- Die Like This
