Band:	Psychotic Waltz
Album:	Bleeding
Style:	Progressive metal
Release date:	1996
Guest review by:	Ch'ti

01. Faded
02. Locust
03. Morbid
04. Bleeding
05. Need
06. Drift
07. Northern Lights
08. Sleep
09. My Grave
10. Skeleton
11. Freedom?

With this bass intro, I knew in advance that the album couldn't be bad.

The bass on Bleeding is a little more prominent than in most other progressive albums. The presence of satisfying bass riffs is definitely a plus for me. Yet, the bass piece in "Locust" is strange, with the same note repeated for 3 minutes. I guess it must be annoying to play, but the result is quite unique.

"Faded", the track that introduces the album is probably my favorite. With good choruses and memorable riffs, there's no need for a more elaborate formula to obtain very good music. The risk with such a good start is that the rest of the album is not up to par, but Psychotic Waltz rocked the album well. We have no weak points, no moments of breathlessness. This is the strong point of Bleeding.

As for the vocals, I find them quite typical for progressive music, especially in the 90s. That's not what makes the album better for me. A more enjoyable moment is the organ in "Freedom" and its special theme. I already love the organ as a standalone instrument, so the organ/metal mix is incredible. An album with an organ is directly a bonus point in my heart.

For my general assessment, Bleeding is a melodic album of classic style and quality. I even had the impression that throughout the album, Psychotic Waltz added a little touch of melancholy, a detail that made the difference for me. But, in general, I didn't love this album. Even if its qualities are undeniable, I must admit that the album did not light the flame in me, the one that lights up when an album grabs my guts, the one I need to fully appreciate an album. So, despite all its qualities, I find that Bleeding is an appreciable album, but not incredible.