Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Texas In July Bloodwork Company: Redfield Release: 2014 Genre: Rating: 4 Reviewer: Greg Watson

Overall energy that is infectious

Pennsylvanian newcomers Texas in July offer up a tasty slab of metalcore with 'Bloodwork', their second album. This one is full of teeth-rattling breakdowns, in your face heavy riffing, vocals that will get you screaming along and an overall energy that is infectious. Taking their cues from bands like Miss May I, Hatebreed and Of Mice and Men, Texas in July show that they know how to craft songs that the listeners can really sink their teeth into. With anthem choruses, a great mix of screams and clean vocals, each track affords you the opportunity to let your inner rock star out. Vocalist JT Cavey exudes energy, emotion and charisma with each word that is elicited from his soul. His screams are something that just hit you like a ton of bricks and make you want to jump up and destroy something right that second. And when his clean vocals kick in, you are reduced to a sniveling little child, mesmerized as if watching the flickering of a dancing flame. Guitarist Chris Davis delivers knockout riffs as well as some incredibly beautiful guitar work. From trying to pummel your head to moments of relaxing, Davis adds so much atmosphere and depth to each song with his playing. Bassist Ben Witkowski and drummer Adam Gray are a duo that know just when to add a little extra to beef up a rhythm section or can bring it down and keep things cool during a mellow interlude. As a unit, Texas in July are firing on all cylinders and tracks like "Broken Soul", "Defenseless" and "Nooses" are perfect examples of a band that are all on the same page. Bloodwork is an album that will be well received by many fans worldwide. If you are looking for an album that you can throw on and listen to from start to finish, Bloodwork isn't a bad place to start.