College Station, Texas’ Blood Price came together in the most hardcore way possible: through band shirts. Drummer Darrel first met vocalist David at a university gym over a Sanguisugabogg tee. Later, guitarist Reese introduced himself at Panda Express after spotting a Blood Incantation shirt, and guitarist Will joined after recognizing a Bodybox design on campus. “If it weren’t for band shirts, we wouldn’t have formed,” Darrel tells No Echo.
Sonically, Blood Price refuses to sit in one lane. Vocalist David describes their approach as pulling from power violence, melodic metalcore, and emoviolence, with influences ranging from early Ceremony and Orchid to It Dies Today. Lyrically, he draws inspiration from poets like Walt Whitman and Octavio Paz, aiming for something more emotional than purely aggressive.
“I want to create something passionate and hopeful,” David explains. “There’s a certain kind of intensity you can capture with this music that translates specific emotions so well… a sort of overwhelming humanness. It’s something that I identify as some form of love.”
That sense of intensity drives their newest two-song release, originally written in 2023. David calls the material “a far stylistic departure from previous material,” centered squarely on love and the uniquely human emotions that come with it. “There are certain emotions I haven’t been able to fully capture or experience from the music I’ve heard, so I wanted to try my best to get closer to such an experience,” he says. “I feel very grateful that the guys play the songs that I write. I feel as though I captured my vision.”
Looking ahead, Blood Price plans to hit the road, “play out of town with our favorite bands, rock out, and finish this album,” according to Will. David is also launching a new recording venture, Alyosha Records, to spotlight Texas talent.
As for their local scene, the band shouts out Heel, YouthInAsia, Memory Ends, Mind Your Own, and Trauma as part of a recent revitalization in College Station. If Blood Price have anything to say about it, that momentum isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
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Blood Price on social media: Instagram
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