[8/10] If you wanted the truth and picked up Bleeding Through’s last album, you soon found out that it was washed over with overbearing synth work and even more Emo sensibilities than the album before that (their breakthrough This is Love, This is Murderous). The cover and liner notes promised a graphic representation of unbridled rage, yet delivered something a tad bit fluffier. Perhaps the grumbles and mutters of us fans got under the Orange County quintet’s sensitive skin. Their latest offering, Declaration, brings the band back to the blunt ferocity they were embraced for in the first place.

While a majority of bands lighten up with age, Bleeding Through sounds as if they’ve gone back to the drawing board, or at least back to their Portrait of a Goddess days, and re-discovered some of the brutality that made their blood boil in the first place. And no, it doesn’t sound forced. Declaration is not a recycling of old material nor a simple step forward. It’s a step over. They’ve stepped over the shortcomings of The Truth and found an invigorated spirit on the other side. Slightly evolving to avoid the “one show pony” label the title track takes their sound more into the black metal genre than what’s only been flirted with before.

Following right behind that is what ranks as one of their fastest songs yet, “Orange County Blonde and Blue.” Of course, this song as well as others such as the Lamb of God-like “There Was a Flood” have pop-metal choruses that are sure to keep them stocked at Hot Topic. Thankfully, the amount of cheesiness has been turned way down. Give thanks to producer Devin Townsend for this. On Declaration he shoves the stunning drumming in the spotlight, rightfully so, and downplays the keyboard harmonies that were threatening domination.

Don’t get too excited. Bleeding Through is still Bleeding Through and typical of their style, the steam starts to run out towards the end. Anchoring the second half are obvious fillers such as “Seller’s Market” and the flat instrumental “The Loving Memory of England” which has little to no relevance in context with the rest of the record.

In all, Declaration might not be considered a classic and to say it’s a reawakening would be a stretch, but it certainly quells any fears that BT was going the way of other bands (to be left nameless…ever seen The Neverending Story?) and selling out for a higher spot on the Billboard chart.

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