Bleed From Within have always thrived at the intersection of brute force and sharp precision, crafting metal that’s as polished as it is punishing. With their latest effort, Zenith, the Scottish metal juggernaut steps boldly into new, sometimes unexpected territory. While the band’s earlier records were grounded in deathcore’s relentless aggression, Zenith finds them fully embracing a modern metalcore sound, enriched by progressive groove metal influences and cinematic flourishes. The result is big, ambitious, and undeniably heavy—even if not every experiment lands with equal impact.

From the opening tracks, Zenith establishes a grand sense of scale. Songs like “Violent Nature” and “In Place of Your Halo” demonstrate the band’s evolution in both songwriting and sonic ambition. The riffs, once charging with death metal urgency, now pulse with a djent-leaning groove—chunky, rhythmic, and calculated. Layered ambient textures, choir-like backing vocals, and even bagpipes appear, injecting a sense of drama and depth that leans more into epic storytelling than pure aggression. The production is massive, aimed more at stadiums than underground venues, but the core intensity remains intact. The harsh vocals are still fierce and commanding, and the drums thunder with clarity and weight.

The title track, “Zenith,” is a defining moment and a clear statement of intent. It reaches back into the band’s more extreme past with ripping riffs and guttural growls, but also pushes forward, ending on a ritualistic, haunting outro that feels like a descent into darkness. It’s one of the most striking and memorable moments on the album—proof that Bleed From Within haven’t lost their edge, even as they evolve.

Elsewhere, tracks like “God Complex” and “Chained to Hate” double down on the band’s newfound affinity for stadium-sized metalcore, delivering massive choruses, pounding rhythms, and crushing breakdowns. These songs feel engineered for live energy, with hook-laden structures that encourage crowd participation without sacrificing heaviness. The blend of modern accessibility and classic aggression is executed with finesse.

However, Zenith isn’t just a record of brute force—it’s also deeply invested in mood, pacing, and atmosphere. “Dying Sun” and “A Hope in Hell” explore slower, brooding territory, showcasing the band’s ability to craft dynamic soundscapes. These tracks lean on layered vocals, eerie clean melodies, and a creeping sense of tension. They serve as emotional counterpoints to the heavier material, suggesting a band increasingly comfortable with restraint and subtlety.

Not every experiment hits the mark. “Immortal Desire,” featuring Mastodon’s Brann Dailor, attempts a choral-metal fusion that ultimately feels disjointed. The track has moments of intrigue but struggles to find a cohesive identity, leaning a bit too far into overproduced territory. It’s an ambitious swing that doesn’t quite connect. In contrast, “Hands of Sin,” featuring Josh Middleton (Sylosis, ex-Architects), is a guest appearance that elevates the material. The interplay between guttural roars and clean vocals feels natural and impactful, while the bass-and-drum dynamics stand out as some of the album’s most effective. It’s a track where every element clicks, resulting in one of the record’s true highlights.

Zenith closes with “Edge of Infinity,” a track that begins with a sense of promise and grandeur. Acoustic guitars and piano create a reflective, almost cinematic tone, but the song eventually slips into more conventional structures. While it doesn’t quite deliver the epic finale it hints at, it still offers a fitting end—melancholic, introspective, and aware of the bigger picture the band is painting.

In the end, Zenith represents a clear turning point for Bleed From Within. It’s less about relentless deathcore ferocity and more about building a modern, expansive sound that blends groove, melody, atmosphere, and accessibility. At its best—on tracks like “Zenith,” “Dying Sun,” and “Hands of Sin”—the album feels massive, mature, and meticulously crafted. At its weakest, it risks overproduction and a sense of safety that dulls the band’s usual edge.

Still, Zenith is an impressive step forward. Whether you’re here for the riffs, the clean-sung choruses, or the genre-blurring experimentation, one thing is certain: Bleed From Within are swinging for the fences, and with Zenith, they’ve delivered an album that feels tailor-made for bigger stages and a broader audience—without forgetting where they came from.

Rating: 7/10