{"id":13808,"date":"2025-02-12T20:23:36","date_gmt":"2025-02-13T01:23:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heavensmetalmagazine.com\/?p=13808"},"modified":"2025-02-20T20:12:36","modified_gmt":"2025-02-21T01:12:36","slug":"review-bloodlines-holiness-cries-ep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heavensmetalmagazine.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/12\/review-bloodlines-holiness-cries-ep\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Bloodlines \u2013 Holiness Cries (EP)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Seth Metoyer<\/a>, Heaven’s Metal Magazine<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hailing from the Gulf Coast in Texas\u2014hardly the first place you think of when you imagine bone-rattling breakdowns\u2014this four-piece has come out swinging again with Holiness Cries<\/em>, an EP that grabs you by the collar and doesn\u2019t let go. Full disclosure: Facedown<\/a> shot this EP my way a while back, but it took me until now to finally clear the backlog and give Holiness Cries<\/em> the spotlight it deserves. And trust me, you\u2019ll be grateful for the white-knuckle ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following up on their 2021 debut, HEVEL<\/em>, 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\u2014think For Today\u2019s bulldozing intensity\u2014then injected a progressive twist reminiscent of Convictions. The result: an underground buzz that spread faster than a wildfire in July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fast-forward to 2024 and Holiness Cries<\/em> released, boasting a shinier production that highlights the band\u2019s dual-vocal attack. The interplay of clean melodies and unclean growls lands with laser-guided precision\u2014no 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One quick spin through the EP and it\u2019s 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\u2019s existential questions the next. Other reviews have lauded Bloodlines for pulling off this mix without feeling preachy\u2014or worse, clich\u00e9\u2014and that\u2019s a testament to the authenticity behind their mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the heart of their sound lies a palpable sense of urgency. You can\u2019t fake conviction like that. Even if faith-driven fury isn\u2019t your usual cup of tea, there\u2019s something enthralling about Holiness Cries<\/em>\u2014like you\u2019re overhearing a conversation that\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If HEVEL<\/em> put Bloodlines on the map, Holiness Cries<\/em> 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\u2019 journey\u2014one that\u2019s loaded with enough spiritual angst and headbanging intensity to shake up even the most jaded ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dive in, turn it up, and let Holiness Cries<\/em> 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\u2019s one thing these Texans prove, it\u2019s that redemption can roar\u2014loudly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rating<\/strong>: 8.2\/10<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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