Walkways - Bleed Out, Heal Out

Remember how we've mentioned in several reviews that some albums make us hesitant to approach the keyboard? This is one of those cases... Why, you ask?

Well, it's not about albums from "Led Zeppelin" or "Foo Fighters" or their peers. No, this is something local, something Israeli, at a level we haven't encountered until now.

It's true, they're not the only ones. There have been and still are many Israeli bands worldwide that have made significant strides, but we haven't experienced such a strong connection or witnessed it in real-time before.

Let's introduce for the first time the concept of the "sacred triangle" that every band should aim to conquer. This triangle comprises three essential elements needed for a band to achieve significant success. The first element is a high-quality musical production of an album, encompassing sound, dynamics, and melody—the complete package.

The second element is the live show, which should electrify venues and offer the audience an extraordinary experience that surpasses the album. Simply performing the album flawlessly is not enough; the band must transcend the album and deliver something special during live performances.

The third and final element is the Unplugged test, also known as the "naked king" test. The band must captivate, impress, and maintain their prowess even when all distortions, amps, and effects are stripped away.

Why are we discussing this now? Because "Walkways" have mastered the "sacred triangle." They have successfully excelled in all three elements, setting a new standard and breaking boundaries with their outstanding success.

When you hear what they have accomplished and how they achieved it, you will be as amazed as we were.

(Photo: Aviv Shiloh)

Following the release of their debut album "Safe In Sound" in 2013, "Walkways" dedicated themselves to extensive touring both domestically and internationally. They didn't just embark on a small tour but performed at major festivals like "Wacken Open Air" and "ARTmania," serving as the opening act for the renowned Swedish metal band "In Flames" (a significant achievement in itself!). Initially, their role as an opening act raised many eyebrows, but these quickly turned to expressions of amazement at their performance on stage.

Besides their global tour, the band also opened for acts performing in Israel, such as "Avenged Sevenfold" and "Disturbed" (fortunately, we attended both events).

A pivotal event and major milestone in the band's journey took place on April 12, 2019, when the band reportedly signed a contract with the renowned international record label "Nuclear Blast". This label is home to major bands like "Anthrax", "Biohazard", "Accept", "Behemoth", "Fear Factory", "Exodus", "Opeth", "Slayer", "In Flames", and many other notable names. We firmly believe that if it weren't for COVID, "Walkways" would have been on a world tour, electrifying clubs and theaters globally and leaving behind a legion of devoted fans.

The band members, Ran Yerushalmi (vocals), Bar Caspi (guitars), Yoni Menar (guitars), Avihai Levy (bass), and Priel Horesh (drums), entered the studio to record their second album "Bleed Out, Heal Out".

This album defies the traditional boundaries of metal, eschewing defined lines and external guidelines. It is crafted from the core of each band member, reflecting their personal realities and inner strength.

While most of the lyrics were penned by Ran, all band members contributed to the writing process.

Each member injects his own experiences and intense emotions into the lyrics, which explore the themes of grappling with natural human impulses while maintaining awareness and self-control.

The album unfolds across six chapters.

The opening chapter starts with heartbreak and profound disappointment, featuring Ran's soothing vocals as Bar and Yoni make a striking entrance with their intense riffs in the song "Till the End". In this track, the band's unique DNA is immediately evident, with heavy riffs perfectly aligned with Avihai and Priel's powerful rhythm section. The dynamics of rises, falls, breaks, and Ran's voice—soaring, descending, roaring, and growling—are all showcased.

Next up is "Hell Born Shove - Impossible" featuring Priel's monstrous beat. It's an incredible variety, and we haven't even reached the third song yet. The chorus is so catchy that by the second listen, you'll want to shout the lyrics. You can't fully grasp it unless you were there, but you can imagine the impact during the song's quiet section where Ran gathers the rising fragments and explodes into the sky like an atomic bomb.

Now onto the album's anthem, "Despair - For Heaven's Sake". Don't tell us it reminds you of "Bring Me The Horizon" because we know it does, and we don't mind. This song is typically part of the band's encore since it leaves nothing behind where the band performs. The production is stunning, with an amazing blend of guitars, drums, and vocals, and incredible dynamics. The band members mentioned that they filmed this music video (the only one we know of) in Kyiv, Ukraine, with the assistance of an external production company.

The second chapter delves into the internal conflict with the desire for revenge and the temptation to let a darker side prevail. It begins with the album's second most powerful track, "Half the Man I Am". Ran passionately declares that he may be a monster, but "you" are only half the man he is. The riffs seem like they were crafted in outer space, processed by humans, and then found their way to the guitars of Bar and Yoni. Can you sense the DNA? Despite the songs' differences, the band's unique sound is unmistakable.

We then proceed to "Trumpet Call", where the trumpets sound as revenge begins. The band describes this as their method of channeling aggression, a way to manage their emotions, since no one has a valid reason to let their ego run rampant. By the song's conclusion, the character chooses not to seek revenge but to survive and be reborn, joining Ran in the cry "Survive, Revive"!!!

The song's ending seamlessly transitions us to the next chapter, which involves releasing and freeing oneself from the weight of trauma. The song "Levitate" resembles a movie scene that sends chills down your spine and allows you to empathize with the character.

The album's title track, "Bleed Out, Heal Out", is another powerful, penetrating force. With its beautiful melody, you find yourself singing loudly with Ran to unleash everything, loudly together:

"Throw away those broken past days, future worries

Bleed out, heal out, and let go

Yeah, let it all go!"

It was a brief chapter, leading us to the next one where we welcome someone new into our lives, the chapter of loving once more.

The song "You Found Me" stands apart from what we've heard so far. It's a soft metal ballad that reveals a different aspect of the band. This softer side is evident not only in Ran's vocals but also in the guitars, bass, and drums, which flow seamlessly like a river cleansing away the impurities accumulated from previous chapters. Such a beautiful love has discovered us! And if the poignant lyrics don't clarify who and what this song is about, just watch the video; the answer is there...

Continuing in the same direction and shifting down another gear with "Unbearable Days", this song stands out as one of the most beautiful on the album, blending melancholy, tenderness, and a soothing quality. Pay attention to the sounds and production; it's a stark contrast to what we heard at the album's start. During live performances, Ran takes a seat on a bar stool, transforming from a wildly energetic presence to a sensitive and sentimental figure. In the 2019 live show, he dedicated the song to a close friend of the band who passed away from cancer, sending chills through the club.

The transitional track "Enough" concludes the current chapter, featuring dark lyrics that delve into profound emotions and thoughts. The band uses this section to open their shows before taking the stage.

The next chapter reflects on the external world, expressing horror at human actions (wars, environmental pollution, and animal abuse) and a strong desire for collective improvement and change. It begins with "Humane Beings", which urges us to alter our habits and become wiser, better stewards of Earth. The choir's inclusion adds a powerful, spiritual dimension, giving the song an additional layer. Once again, note the dynamics and appreciate the beautiful craftsmanship.

Listen to Ran and join in:

"Our tongues are sharper, sharper than knives

Our guns are harmless compared to our lies

The sounds of the earth got louder with signs

Our hounds are puppies compared to our minds"

The song "Care - In This Together" opens with the familiar sound of guitars, featuring twists, rises, falls, breaks, and re-entries. "We're in this thing together," Ran shouts.

As the album concludes, we transition to a chapter of convergence due to the external world's shock, filled once more with great disappointment and a sense of despair about the current situation. Yet, the deep desire to resolve and rise above the internal and external chaos remains intact. The band delivers another powerful blow with the deceptively titled "Thank You", suggesting a calm ending. The album closes with the song "Bone Depp", which feels like a summary of the main character's journey, the experiences endured, and the scars left by the struggle. We undeniably relate to the character, but we are left with positive scars from this album; it invigorated us, touched our souls, challenged our minds, and filled us with immense energy.

(Photo: Yodan Abadi)

The band members mentioned that they strive to handle everything independently, which is understandable given the income levels for Israeli bands in rock music, especially metal, in the Holy Land.

They take charge of designing their posters, shirts, and albums. Avihai handles photography, capturing the band's music videos and stills, and also serves as the tour manager. Bar is responsible for editing the music videos. Remarkably, the band self-produced the entire album. Yoni and Priel took care of sound production, with Priel also managing the mixing. Only the mastering was outsourced to a company called "Systematic Productions".

The band members also shared that their ability to create varied sounds comes from each member being influenced by different bands. When collaborating, they each contribute their unique influences to the music. This approach makes the process more challenging and complex, but the synergy and dynamics among the members result in a sound that is both diverse and distinctive. They cited influences from bands like Korn, Slipknot, Opeth, Karnivool, Radiohead, and many others. In this album, they felt more self-assured, allowing this diversity to shine through compared to their previous album.

Feel free to listen to the album and determine whether our previous statements are overly sentimental or accurate. For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music.

Oh, and we have a minor debt from the start of our review, just to demonstrate that "Walkways" successfully passed the "sacred triangle" test.

"Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog

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