Bleeding Through is a metalcore band from Orange County, California that formed in 1999. The lineup consists of Brandan Schieppati (vocals), Ryan Wombacher (bass/vocals), Marta (keyboards), Brian Leppke (guitar), and Derek Youngsma (drums). They disbanded in 2014 before reuniting in 2018. Currently they have released eight studio albums. They are a melodic metalcore band in the same vein as bands like As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage, and Trivium. What differentiates Bleeding Through from these bands is the influence that they take from black metal.

As a result Bleeding Through's sound is much darker, evil-sounding and keyboard heavy than the aforementioned bands. Bleeding Through also influenced many bands that came later such as Motionless in White, Make Them Suffer, and Miss May I. Their discography is impressive to say the least. Here we go.

Dust to Ashes (2001) - Their first full length album. It features very little of the black metal influence that they would become known for, this one is much closer to death metal. It is raw and heavy with very few keyboard parts, but the ones that there are are amazing. Many of the songs on this album would appear on their next two albums. I really enjoy this album, but unless you're a huge BT fan you probably don't need to bother with this one.

Essential Tracks: Turns Cold to the Touch, Hemlock Society, Oedipus Complex, Thrones of Agony

Portrait of the Goddess (2002) - This is a very dark and intense album, as to be expected from an early metalcore record. Brandan's vocals are much rougher than they are in future releases, the guitar tones are filthy, and the keyboards are the only solace from the onslaught of aggression. M. Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold guests on a track too, which is one of the best songs on the record. The production is pummeling and in-your-face the whole time, most noticeably with the drums. Bleeding Through is always heavy, and this one is intense even for them. This is a record that will rip your goddamn face off.

Essential Tracks: Rise, Wake of Orion, Saviour Saint Salvation, I Dream of July

This Is Love, This Is Murderous (2004) - This is one of their classic records and the one where Bleeding Through as we know it really took form. It is heavy, angry, full of riffs and has lots of gnarly breakdowns. The opening track, Love Lost In A Hale of Gunfire, is the band's signature song and famously begins with a quote from The Boondock Saints. There are few cleans, and the keyboards take a back seat as well. The album's production is very muddy which makes it hard to listen to, but the songs are so good it's worth it.

Essential Tracks: Love Lost In A Hale of Gunfire, Number Seven With A Bullet, On Wings of Lead, Revenge I Seek

The Truth (2006) - This album was Bleeding Through's commercial peak, selling 17,000 copies in its first week. It has perhaps the most clean singing of any BT album, and also features a power ballad (Line In The Sand) which is the only one in BT's whole discography. Don't be mistaken though, this album is just as fiery and heavy as their other albums. It has many savage breakdowns, and they hit harder thanks to the album's much improved production. The keyboards are ethereal and spacey, giving this album a unique vibe too. It's a classic through and through.

Essential Songs: Of Love and Failing, Love In Slow Motion, Dearly Demented, Line In The Sand

Declaration (2008) - Many metalcore bands of this era got more and more metal as time went by, and Bleeding Through is no exception. This record, a concept album about life in the music industry, is BT's most coherent album. Every song bleeds into the next which makes this a record that flows incredibly well. In addition to the usual keyboards Declaration makes use of violins on many of it's songs which give this album a uniquely theatrical atmosphere. The band's black metal influence is at its most prominent here: Schieppati uses higher shrieks for most of the album and the riffs sound like they were ripped right from an Emperor album. Declaration is a 45 minute masterpiece that features tasty riffs, crunchy breakdowns, blast beats, atmosphere, and even guest vocals from Tim Lambesis of As I Lay Dying thrown in for good measure. The album ends with the sounds of rain and a gentle piano, providing the perfect end to this incredible record. Many consider it BT's best, even Brandan himself. It's my favourite BT record and probably my favourite album of all time.

Essential Tracks: Honestly, this album is incredibly cohesive and every song is so good I don't want to single out any tracks. If you're going to listen to Declaration, listen to it in its entirety and in order. You won't regret it.

Bleeding Through (2010) - Their self titled album carries on with the sound they explored on Declaration. Brandan continues to use shrieks over growls and it still has a very dark feeling to it; however, it lacks the theatricality of the previous record. This album also features the most guitar solos of any BT album, with some songs (such as Divide the Armies) even having two! It's another solid entry into BT's already amazing discography.

Essential Songs: Anti-Hero, Your Abandonment, Divide The Armies, Distortion; Devotion

The Great Fire (2012) - After two predominantly metal albums, Bleeding Through swung in the opposite direction and focused more on hardcore. The songs are short, with many of them less than three minutes and only one that is over four. The album's lyrics are all centered around an anti- religion theme, accented by the cover art that depicts a decaying church altar. Much of the keyboard work carries a haunting organ tone. It's a new twist on the signature BT sound. After touring this album Bleeding Through announced that they would disband, and played their last show in 2014.

Essential Songs: Faith In Fire, Walking Dead, Step Back In Line, Trail of Seclusion

Love Will Kill All (2018) - Turns out Bleeding Through wasn't gone for good. In early 2018 the band announced that it had reformed and would put out a new record. Brandan has said that with this album they wanted to combine The Truth and Declaration, and the album definitely reflects that. It has all the black metal goodness of the latter with the clean choruses of the former. The best part of this record is once again the keyboards, which elevate the album to a whole other evil level. It's everything a comeback album should be.

Essential Tracks: Darkness A Feeling I Know / Fade into the Ash, Buried, Set Me Free, Remains

Listen to Love Will Kill All first because it's their newest and most accessible album. After that go for any of the previous five records. The first two albums are pretty intense and I would recommend being comfortable with BT's other work before listening to them.