Chevelle - Bright as Blasphemy (2025)^{Release ID: 61739}

I will not say that I was excited to listen to the new Chevelle album in 2025, but given the lackluster performance of legacy bands so far this year, it would surely be a decent change of pace to hear a band that actually gives a shit about writing good melodies and motifs in their music, instead of mindless metalcore breakdowns or a 60-plus minute jazz fusion solo/wank.

Chevelle's style of alternative metal was closer to that of Thornhill (modern day Deftones), but with fewer shoegaze elements. They do like to use atmospheric open chordal progressions in the guitars, but they also have some strong groove centric ideas as well. Wonder What's Next and Vena Sera are two standout albums during the nu metal boom of the 2000s despite not being that close to nu metal at all. The bands 2021 progressive pivot with Niratias was a great album from a compositional point-of-view, but the production was terrible and packed with a bunch of filler content. Bright as Blasphemy streamlines the length, which I enjoy, as well as reworking some of the previous albums production issues; the bass is super prominent in the mixing giving songs like "Jim Jones - Coward, Pt. 2" and "Karma Goddess" some real grit and energy.

I did like the first three songs on the album, even if by Chevelle standards, they can be a little bit too predictable. I cannot say the same about the remainder of the project. None of it is by definition bad, but I feel like there are a lot more inconsistencies from "Hallucinations" on. The biggest issue is the inclusion of two interlude songs, with "Hallucinations" and "Blood out in the Fields" taking on those roles. Normally, the interlude serves a transitional purpose within the album, and Chevelle wisely turned them both into fully stretched out ideas, but I don't see much of a reason to have two of them. "Blood out in the Fields" is the correct place for an interlude since it precedes two of Bright as Blasphemy's heaviest tunes (as well as its best). The two pieces that follow "Hallucination" ("Wolves (Love & Light)" and "Karma Goddess") are both quite meandering.

There isn't that much else to say about Bright as Blasphemy. I think it is a decent album by Chevelle; probably their best since La gárgola, it has a noticeable rough patch during the middle, but is salvaged by its conclusion. Chevelle and Thornhill fans will likely find this enjoyable, while others outside of the 2000s nu metal bubble will probably get nothing out of it. As a musician myself, I've been told that the most important notes in a song/set are the first and last notes. Given that Chevelle saved the best of Bright as Blasphemy for the beginning and end, I can give it a little boost. 

Best Songs: Rabbit Hole - Cowards, Pt. 1, AI Phobias, Shocked at the End of the World, Karma Goddess