by Klaudio Krstić
Nottingham’s very own whistling whirlwind of chaos, Bloody Head, make themselves heard loud and (mostly) clear with their seventh release – Perpetual Eden. With such a perplexing name, the album already extends to the listener a promise of a deep dive into the contemporary human condition in a way unique to the band – through cleansing noise, harsh epiphanies, and beautifully messy lyricism. A quick glance at the tracklist is enough to provoke at the very least a modicum of interest, as the titles of the tracks (and indeed, their contents) seem to bear closer resemblance to a mad occultist’s notebook than the names of punk/noise rock tracks.
Sonically (this is what it’s all about, of course), the album makes up a perfectly cohesive whole, with each track feeling like a unique and mysterious piece of a larger puzzle, which, put together, reflects various aspects of modern society through unique symbolism and a punishing soundscape. At the very beginning of the album, the seemingly paradoxical mantra of authority resounds incessantly, evolving throughout “There Is No Authority But Yourself… And Everyone Else,” and leading into the rest of the experience. This is in stark contrast to the closer “The Temple Collapses” which hauntingly takes the listener by the hand and bids them farewell, in melancholy hopes that some lessons were learned (or others, unlearned) along the way. All of the statements and ideas presented throughout the album are also perfectly backed up by an enjoyable instrumental listening experience (in its own chaotic way, of course), through the skillful use of effects, solid riff ideas, and an unending determination to drown the listener in waves of heavyweight chaos.
The record is an incredibly focused effort on the band’s end, backed up by a vast array of experience and perspectives both instrumental and lyrical. The garden of Perpetual Eden leads the listener through its paths unbeaten and unfriendly, but ultimately provides a unique and profound experience seldom matched by other contemporaries within the genre.