Seven years is a long time to be away from the scene, but blessthefall’s upcoming album Gallows proves some bands only get better with time. Dropping after a lengthy hiatus, this record feels like both a homecoming and a rebirth for the band. It’s nostalgic enough to remind you why you fell in love with the band in the first place, yet modern enough to compete in today’s metalcore landscape.
Gallows makes its mission very clear: blessthefall isn’t just back; they’re here to reclaim their spot at the top of the scene. It’s an album that honors their legacy while refusing to stay stuck in the past. You can hear that balance in the songwriting with huge, anthemic choruses paired with disgustingly punishing breakdowns and sharp production. It feels like the band took everything that defined their early work, injected it with years of experience and maturity, turned the intensity up, and blew out the speakers.
The singles were a strong indicator of what was coming. Wake the Dead sets the tone with soaring clean vocals from Beau Bokan layered over riffs that hit like a bus, a perfect marriage of melody and brutality. Drag Me Under leans into a darker, more aggressive space, loaded with tension and raw emotion. And then there’s mallxcore, a nostalgic wink to the band’s roots that somehow feels completely fresh.
But the deeper cuts show the real evolution. Venom is the crown jewel of the album for me. It’s a relentless, hook-driven masterpiece that proves the band knows exactly what fans want: heaviness with purpose and choruses that demand to be screamed back at shows. The addition of features from Alpha Wolf, Story Of The Year, and Caskets only amplifies the experience, widening the sonic palette while keeping that classic blessthefall sound intact.
Vocally, Beau delivers a career-defining performance. His cleans are soaring and soulful without ever losing his grit, while Jared’s screams hit harder than ever. Pair that with drumming that feels like a controlled explosion and Eric’s brutal riffs, and you’ve got a record that feels alive in every sense of the word.
If there was any doubt about whether blessthefall could return and actually matter in 2025, Gallows answers it with authority. This isn’t a nostalgia cash grab like some bands might do; it’s an album with purpose and heart. It’s the sound of a band rediscovering why they started making music in the first place and doing it better than ever.
Is this their best record yet? Honestly, it just might be. Gallows doesn’t just meet expectations; it exceeds them, setting a new benchmark for what modern metalcore can be while tipping its hat to the scene that birthed it. blessthefall is back, and it’s honestly what the scene needed. Welcome back, boys.
Rating: Ten out of five stars? I don’t know if that’s allowed, but this is a perfect record.
