Grand Rapids, Michigan’s Tired Blood play a riff-filled, energetic brand of heavy rock with as much in common with bands like Foo Fighters as heavier, more abrasive acts like Unsane, Modern Life is War and Whores. Having recently seen them open for Elder, I was impressed by their live energy and songwriting skills, especially for a three-piece, their live show sounding much larger than many bands with two or three more members.
The band recorded their debut, self titled album in May of this year, self releasing it on Bandcamp. Any fan of catchy and aggressive guitar based heavy rock or metal should feel right at home listening to this album, and even though it’s not a radical reinvention of the genre, the band have developed their own sound and identity, one that’s both cohesive and recognizable, which is impressive for a first release, and something many bands, especially of this time, struggle with for quite a while.
[bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=1115357479 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 track=847546946]
Tracks like “Pain Will Come Your Way”, “Book Of The Dead” and “Burn Them” are propelled along by big, powerful riffs and and vocal lines that exude the kind of energy that’s made for live shows, imploring the listener to get up and move. While not a long album, the runtime still feels just right, with most songs clocking in at around three minutes or less, which feels perfect for this style of music.
[bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=1115357479 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 track=344412027]
For a relatively young band, Tired Blood show quite a bit a promise, and hopefully going forward we can see them expand on this debut and bring some much needed variety to the local scene. Grand Rapids and the surrounding area is one of only two or three areas in Michigan with any real extreme music presence, and Tired Blood have done quite a bit to set themselves apart from the pack. Check them out on Facebook and Bandcamp, and if you like what you hear, consider buying a download or even going to a show!