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A true sleeping metalcore giant, Kingdom Of Giants have been painfully inconsistent and unpredictable with new music releases, and yet still remain amazingly consistent when it comes to the quality and direction of their music. Operating in a league of their own, albeit whenever they want, the California-based juggernauts finally got their latest 6-track EP Bleeding Star ready to be released onto the world and suck us deep into a whirlwind of metalcore excellence. With three outstanding singles already out, and a cult reputation to maintain, there is absolutely no surprise that their latest drop is simply phenomenal.
With Bleeding Star, Kingdom Of Giants make a thunderous comeback to their unapologetically great form, and hopefully this time they are here to stay. Deep into 2024 the band emerges stronger than ever through various personal issues, a major lineup change and constant rumours of hiatus, only to deliver a powerful statement of intent and unrivalled abilities that silence all doubts and uncertainties for good. The three new songs completely match the energy of the promo singles, and the six tracks together form the most complete and intense 21 minutes and 21 seconds of contemporary atmospheric metalcore sound displayed in a while, just like they did on all of their previous releases.
Even four brilliant albums into their career, Kingdom Of Giants are still not the most appreciated and valued band across the international scene, but there are certain corners of the internet where their name is said with utmost respect and admiration, and rightfuly so. To this day, their previous LP Passenger (2020) remains one of the best modern synth-led metalcore albums ever made, and Bleeding Star carries on in the same direction as if no time had passed. That unmissable "neon" aesthetic and Cyberpunk-feel that was fundamental for Passenger is developped even further here, with the signature electrifying vibe, multilayered atmosphere and driving grooves maintained across the entire EP.
The stompy single 'Asphalt' sets the tone for Bleeding Star to unfold in full force and glory, with 'Scorpion' making a smooth transition to a calmer and more melancholic keyboard-driven compositions before descending into Kingdom Of Giants' familiar primal rage in 'Bloodworm'. An outstanding piece of uncompromising industrial metal sound, 'Smoke' lets us dive even deeper into dreamy soundscapes and dystopian raves before the lead rager 'Wasted Space' hits us one more time with a slightly modified and polished version of the original rager (although I still prefer the raw power of the original 2023 single). And then 'Landslide' seals the deal as an actual avalanche of emotions, moods and influences.
This whole review might seem a bit overexcited and exaggerated at first, but Kingdom Of Giants really are that special. Even at their current sporadic output, the band has managed to cement itself as a true bastion of contemporary metalcore sound of the highest musical and lyrical quality, cinematic visual background, and overall creative expression. They remain not only one of SharpTone Records' biggest current assets, but also a crucial part of the modern metal scene's recent past, active present, and hopefully its bright future.
Very few bands find balance as masterfuly and seamlessly as Kingdom Of Giants - emotive and direct, gentle and forceful, dreamy and raging, calming and restless, melancholic and furious, intimate and relatable, accessible and brutal, without any compromises or hesitations. It is striking just how confident and purposeful Bleeding Star sounds even after such break that would usually put extra pressure to any other band.
Composed, determined, free, just the way we have learned to expect Kingdom Of Giants in the past, and how I truly hope to keep seeing them in years to come!
Kingdom Of Giants - 'Bleeding Star'
Country: United States
Released: 20 September 2024
Label: SharpTone Records
Tracklisting:
1. Asphalt
2. Scorpion
3. Bloodworm
4. Smoke
5. Wasted Space
6. Landslide
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