Here’s your bi-annual report on Pure Bliss from Syracuse, New York: they’re dropping a new EP called Torture Realm. Thanks for reading.
In all seriousness, Torture Realm finds the band at their most focused and primal yet. Displaying this earlier this year with their single “On the Wheel,” which opened with an explosion of blast beats that lead into their trademark thundering riffs, I personally was blown away by its ferocious energy. At the time, Pure Bliss also announced their signing to Unbeaten Records, a suitable home for the metallic hardcore band.
Pure Bliss have always tried to find new ways of expressing their own brand of power and heaviness when they go in to record a slew of new songs but this one they feel is an even bigger leap in progression from their previous release, last year's Age of Judgement EP.
“We’ve really blurred the lines from Age of Judgement in terms of writing," Pure Bliss vocalist Brandon DiFabio explained to me. "AoJ kind of felt like we built a box and made every song fit within that box, but on this record, I think we did a lot of different and new things that help the songs differentiate from one another while still cohesively making a really fun record.”
“Berserker" is the first song off the EP and it sets the stage for the next 17 minutes perfectly, encapsulating everything Pure Bliss have been building towards the last 3 years of being a band. Check out the music video they just dropped for the track:
In terms of songwriting, Brandon admitted that the process was the most extensive collaboration between the members, with each offering their own ideas into the mix.
“Writing this record felt way more give and take between our different personal music styles, I don’t think there’s a single riff that hasn’t been tweaked by another member in some shape or form, we all definitely pushed each other out of our own comfort zones and the result is the craziest shit we’ve written."
Having recently played alongside such bands as The Acacia Strain, Missing Link, and Gates to Hell, has clearly had an influence on Pure Bliss as Torture Realm has them toying with their sonic blueprint a bit. While they never quite cross the line over their heavy hardcore sound, they’re not afraid to push the envelope.
Speaking on the new techniques they’re exploring, guitarist Daemon Elias states, “I pushed myself to write riffs that were harder to play but still listenable. Finding a balance between catchiness for the listener, and enjoyability for me to play was a tough, but really rewarding experience. Recording acoustic guitar for a hardcore record was also really cool. I’m excited to see everyone’s reaction to that for sure.”
Pure Bliss will release Torture Realm next month and will be playing shows and festivals along the East Coast as well as the Hold Your Ground fest pre-show in Ontario, Canada. They’ve also been announced to play Mansfield Music Fest in Ohio this month. Get ready to enter the Torture Realm.
Pure Bliss would like to shout out: "Buddy Armstrong and Unbeaten Records, Trae Roberts and Bricktop, Casey Ahrens-Cavallo and Jocko at MoreSound, ACHC, everyone who has bought merch, come to see us, or put us up for the night."
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Torture Realm will be released November 1st via Unbeaten Records (pre-order).
Pure Bliss on social media: Instagram
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