Dark Operative

Bleach Everything, Bound / Cured (Dark Operative 2021)

Wayne Edwards, , , ,

Tighten up your wig because this one is a quick, hard punch right to the mouth.

Bleach everything began in 2012 as a band with a central locus of Richmond, Virginia. Changes and evolution ensued, and a few years ago they also started a magazine – check out their website (link below) to see what some of that content looks like. The taproot is punk with hardcore capillaries, but they do sound different from the store brand. The band’s discography shows a good list of 7 inchers, splits, and the well-known RFTCC (2019). The band is Ryan Parrish (drums), Brent Eyestone (vocals), Kelly Posadas (bass), and Graham Scala (guitar).

“Bound” has a chorus that teeters on the melodic, existing like an idyllic island surrounded by rough waters. “Cured” does that, too, and so we have a theme carried out in two pieces over the course of less than three minutes. It is punk and maybe hardcore, but there is this modulating factor I am talking about that gives it a different ring.

The press releases reads, in part, thusly. “Thematically, ‘Bound’ explores the uncertainty of luck and life and never truly knowing how it can, will, and can still shake out. ‘Cured’ addresses the notion of figuring out how one must come to terms with the truth before death takes care of the task.” I can’t disagree with this assessment. What I got out of it went off in rather a different direction and came from just letting the sounds roil over me. You do it your way.

Pre-order the digital for two bucks or the x-ray flexi disc for three bucks via the Bandcamp link — they’ll be out this coming Friday. This one is for fans more than newbies, and the fans are going to like it.

Links.

Bandcamp, https://bleacheverything.bandcamp.com/

Website, https://www.bleacheverything.com/

Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/BleachEverything

Dark Operative, https://darkops.site/

Bleach Everything, Bound / Cured (Dark Operative 2021)

Power Trip, Live in Seattle 05.28.18 (Dark Operative 2020)

Wayne Edwards, ,

Power Trip surprised fans with the release of an unannounced live set recorded in Seattle in 2018.

I was very excited to hear this set had been dropped out of nowhere because I have seen Power Trip many times and they are such a great live band. Usually, when I have caught them live, they played a half hour or a little less, so this live set recorded at Neumos in Seattle is a boon because it is a full 40+ minutes of unrelenting smashmouth metal.

They are covering all the bases on the setlist with songs from their two full-length albums and a couple from the self-titled EP. Just so you know, here’s the list: “Drown” – short intro, “Divine Apprehension,” “Suffer No Fool,” “Soul Sacrifice,” “Executioner’s Tax (Swing the Axe),” “Crucifixation,” “Heretic’s Fork,” “Conditioned to Death,” “Firing Squad,” “Manifest Destination,” and “Crossbreaker.” Power Trip were on fire this night in Seattle, and it has been expertly captured for our repeated enjoyment.

You can listen to Live in Seattle 05.28.18 on any and every conceivable streaming platform. If you go to Bandcamp and buy the download, note the following, posted on the site. “The band offers this release as a way of saying thank you to all supporters, friends, and allies over the years. All proceeds from the sale of this album on Bandcamp go toward offsetting the financial impact of the numerous Power Trip tours and live appearances cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Band photo by Joshua Andrade.

Links.

https://powertrip.bandcamp.com/

Power Trip, Live in Seattle 05.28.18 (Dark Operative 2020)