EARTH: The Bleeding Fields

Released: 2002

Melbourne’s Earth is undoubtedly one of the best Australian metal bands around and on their first album they more than proved their mettle with some malicious death metal laden with crushing riffs, demonic vocals and surging melodies.

Those familiar with the first album may have been a little taken aback with the follow-up at first however, because on The Bleeding Fields Earth takes a more simplistic attitude than with the more elaborate debut, injecting a rockier feel overall and eschewing the Byronesque lyrics for rather more graphic depictions of carnage and violence. The style may be a little different, but it is by no means any less effective and powerful. Indeed, as was Star Condemn’d, The Bleeding Fields is nothing less than a excellent display of fearsome and heavy melodic death metal. The Entombed-like rockier edge does nothing to lessen Earth’s impact, although admittedly there are times when some of the riffs do sound rather alike, particularly on the first two tracks, and overall the effect is striking. Bren Birge’s vocals are truly immense, matching the outright fury of the band’s assault. It’s hard to choose a stand out track because the whole album is full of them, but ‘The Undead’ and ‘Armageddon’ are awesome, ‘Human Carnage’ and ‘Alive’ are similarly incredible and the re-recorded version of ‘Of This Spell’ is just as impressive this time around.

The album also features a hidden cover of AC/DC’s ‘Let Me Put My Love Into You’ that shows Earth in a somewhat more rambunctious and jovial mood than is felt elsewhere. The vocals on this track are by Terry Vainoras, who replaced Birge in the band for a couple of years after this was recorded.

The Bleeding Fields is another triumph for this great band.

1. The Bleeding Fields
2. Black Earth
3. Born to Die
4. Reign of Hate
5. Alive
6. The Undead
7. From the Grave
8. Human Carnage
9. Of This Spell
10. Armageddon
11. (untitled)
12. Let Me Put Me Love Into You (unlisted)

Rating: 92%