Bleeth by Ana Farina Mackliff
While Miami post-metal trio Bleeth worked on the making and rollout of their recently released third LP, Marionette, life continued, as it often does, to pull the band in other directions. Bassist-vocalist Ryan Riva’s house burned down. Drummer Juan Londoño was refused entry back into the United States after Bleeth had spent ten days in Mexico City recording tracks.
Addresses changed, jobs ended and babies were born. Bleeth eventually regrouped with Hector Mojena of SUMO taking over drums alongside Riva and guitarist-vocalist Lauren Palma. The band recently sat down with PureHoney ahead of a rehearsal. The conversation covered their first recordings with Mojena (for an EP due closer to 2026), their fondness for the late live-music club Churchill’s, and some of their favorite local dining spots (in particular Naomi’s Garden Restaurant & Lounge).
Bleeth’s music is inevitably — and correctly — described as heavy and brutal, but without those adjectives being reductive. The band fits in with punks, doomers, noise artists, the grunge crowd, and metalcore diehards. They range across visceral frequencies encompassing The Jesus Lizard, Helmet, Health, Full of Hell, Sonic Youth, Sunn O))), and Electric Wizard. They rumble into ethereal space, clutching what sounds like a love letter to bone-rattling bass. They’re also delighted to talk about their interest in atonal classical music.
To celebrate the release of Marionette at Bar Nancy in Miami, they’ve assembled a live lineup very much in the tight-knit spirit of a Churchill’s show. Palomino Blond, Mold!, and NGY will play their own variations on heavy before the show culminates with Bleeth’s relentless, overwhelming, atmospheric beauty and power.
The band was also kind enough to let a PureHoney correspondent listen to a rough mix of the forthcoming EP. The evolution of Bleeth’s style with a new drummer aboard was readily apparent, and staggering. Before the recordings, Mojena was already bringing his own unique dynamism, energy and inspiration to Bleeth’s sound. And now it’s there in new tracks that will hopefully not be bottled up for long or delayed by life’s unscheduled demands.
Bleeth, with Mold, NGY and Palomino blond perform 8pm Saturday, July 19 at at Bar Nancy in Miami. bleeth.net ~ Erik Kvarnberg
