Review: Bloodlines – Holiness Cries (EP)
By Seth Metoyer, Heaven’s Metal Magazine
Hailing from the Gulf Coast in Texas—hardly the first place you think of when you imagine bone-rattling breakdowns—this four-piece has come out swinging again with Holiness Cries, an EP that grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. Full disclosure: Facedown shot this EP my way a while back, but it took me until now to finally clear the backlog and give Holiness Cries the spotlight it deserves. And trust me, you’ll be grateful for the white-knuckle ride.
Following up on their 2021 debut, HEVEL, was no small feat. That record established Bloodlines as a hungry, faith-fueled outfit unafraid to mix pummeling riffs with a deeply personal message. Inspired by the biblical book of Ecclesiastes, they toyed with classic metalcore elements—think For Today’s bulldozing intensity—then injected a progressive twist reminiscent of Convictions. The result: an underground buzz that spread faster than a wildfire in July.
Fast-forward to 2024 and Holiness Cries released, boasting a shinier production that highlights the band’s dual-vocal attack. The interplay of clean melodies and unclean growls lands with laser-guided precision—no easy feat in a genre that often sacrifices nuance for sheer volume. Bloodlines navigate that balance deftly, letting the clean vocals soar high just when the gutturals threaten to drag you to the depths.
One quick spin through the EP and it’s evident why it slotted so easily into my Top 40 albums of 2024. Track after track, the band knits spiritual themes of redemption and hope into the fiber of every riff, but they never let up on the aggression. You might be grooving in the pit one second, then pondering life’s existential questions the next. Other reviews have lauded Bloodlines for pulling off this mix without feeling preachy—or worse, cliché—and that’s a testament to the authenticity behind their mission.
At the heart of their sound lies a palpable sense of urgency. You can’t fake conviction like that. Even if faith-driven fury isn’t your usual cup of tea, there’s something enthralling about Holiness Cries—like you’re overhearing a conversation that’s too real and raw to ignore. The title track stands out as a prime example, with a rhythm section that thunders like a Texas storm, while the guitars weave in and out of progressive territory.
If HEVEL put Bloodlines on the map, Holiness Cries cements them as a driving force, fueled by passion, punishing riffs, and an unwavering sense of purpose. For fans of modern metalcore who crave a dose of contemplation with their chaos, this is a must-hear. Consider it another milestone on Bloodlines’ journey—one that’s loaded with enough spiritual angst and headbanging intensity to shake up even the most jaded ears.
Dive in, turn it up, and let Holiness Cries remind you that metal can still find new territory to claim, even in a world where everything sometimes feels done before. After all, if there’s one thing these Texans prove, it’s that redemption can roar—loudly.
Rating: 8.2/10
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