Band:	Bloodshot Dawn
Album:	Demons
Style:	Melodic death metal
Release date:	October 26, 2014
A review by:	deadone

01. Smoke And Mirrors
02. Consequence Complex
03. Unified
04. Inadequacy
05. Black Hole Infinity
06. Human Void
07. The Image Faded
08. Demons

It always happens when you're least expecting it. You're in the midst of a coffee break in between analysing financial reports, brain half numb from staring at numbers the whole morning. You press play on some unknown album expecting the same old uninspired stuff. Especially when the band is unsigned, plays melodic death metal and it's their second album and you think "can't be that good." And then the music hits you, knocking you down on your proverbial arse, leaving you dazed and confused. The culprit behind this unprovoked shock and awe campaign is Bloodshot Dawn and the lethal weapon is Demons.

In theory yours truly should not like this album and certainly not instantly and not to the degree I do.

First it's a real mish-mash of genres. A core of melodic death metal is coated in elements of thrash, death, and metalcore. One can hear shades of Arch Enemy, Aborted's more metalcore moments, Arsis, Darkane, Lamb Of God, Shadows Fall, Soilwork, Switchblade and Scar Symmetry. Some of them aren't surprising given the guests featured. But the sound here is unique.

Mish-mashing genres is bad; bands seldom get all the elements right and it often sounds disjointed. Bloodshot Dawn nail each element perfectly. It all flows nicely and to use an overused word, they manage to create synergy between all these different elements.

The vocals are a mash-mash too. There's death metal growls and metalcore screams. Again this is generally bad. But vocalist Josh McMorran and backing vocalist Ben Elis do a great job and even the metalcore style vocals are done stylishly. And Aborted's Sven de Caluve sounds perfectly at home.

Secondly the music can be very technical, something the author also isn't a fan of especially when it's technicality for technicality's sake. Bloodshot Dawn know when to ramp up the technicality and when to tone it down to match the song. There are times when they'll just crank out a simple thrash riff or some reasonably brutal death metal and others when it's a mad frenzy of demented riffs, huge crazy bass lines and intense leads.

Thirdly, it sounds great. Production is modern but fits the music perfectly. And the keyboards are kept in the background whilst the guitars rightfully dominate. And no one element is overbearing.

Basically it would be damn near perfect except for the songwriting. With so many different styles and riffs crammed into each song, they sometimes lose their individuality and distinctiveness.

That Bloodshot Dawn could impress me with music I nominally don't like is testament to the quality of this album. It also shows what a band can do without major label support by utilising crowd funding and sticking to their own values and vision.