UNCVRD: Bleed The Gods

Four musicians with unfinished business find a path to their dreams with new band and single, Bleed The Gods.

The journey of Bleed The Gods began within the vibrant Long Island music scene, a hidden gem in New York infused with talent that spans punk, hardcore, and metal. For the four members of this band, the path ahead was uncertain, yet an undeniable passion for music ignited their ambitions. Having navigated a patchwork of projects with various bands, they eventually realized something crucial was missing from their experiences. They yearned for a project that transcended the typical confines of just making music; they sought a deeper, heartfelt connection that resonated within the group and reflected in their sound.

From the ashes of their past endeavors, Bleed The Gods emerged—a bold statement to the idea that dreams can evolve, even when not every chapter unfolds as envisioned. Their latest single, intriguingly titled “Bleed The Gods,” encapsulates this new sonic journey marked by experimentation and raw emotion. The track reverberates with gritty, unrefined instrumentation and poignant lyrics, tackling the profound themes of feeling lost and self-destructive in the wake of losing a best friend. It delves into the painful intersection of tragedy and addiction, ultimately finding solace and bittersweet acceptance within those struggles.

While this marks the dawn of Bleed The Gods’ journey toward rebirth and recovery, their new single showcases an unwavering commitment to unfinished dreams. It highlights the deep bonds forged through friendship, as well as an unfiltered expression of raw aggression that springs from their shared experiences. This is more than just a song; it’s a declaration of resilience and the beginning of an inspiring new chapter.

It's great to see you all here! So, the scene in Long Island, I've always felt that the local music scene is this decadent, vibrant melting pot, blending a rich tapestry of rock genres. Punk, in particular, has woven its way through the fabric of this community, alongside ska, emo, and hardcore. Given the diverse array of sounds and textures that thrive in this area, I'm curious about what drew you specifically to the realms of hardcore and metal. Were there particular experiences or influential bands that sparked your passion and shaped the music that ultimately led to the formation of Bleed The Gods?

Sam: When I was 11, my older brother took me to my first backyard show in Long Beach celebrating the release of Cipher's debut LP, "Recognize," and a few months later, he took me to see Earth Crisis and Vision of Disorder at Industry in Island Park. I saw how the crowd reacted to these bands and loved the idea of how tribal everything was. Real, raw release of aggression and freedom of expression. I knew I was going to front a band one day after experiencing those two shows.

Mike: I grew up with two older brothers in the 80s, which got me into metal, indie, and hardcore. My oldest brother went to high school with Archie SIB, who introduced hardcore to him and his friends. So it’s always been around me. For me, the formation of Bleed the Gods was a natural progression of creativity. John, Anthony, and I were playing in Diesel and just kept writing on and off over the years. It hit a point where we wanted to move further than just writing music and start turning them into songs.

John: This seriously could take all night to answer. I always knew I'd do something with music. I originally thought I would be the person recording as many artists as possible. My passion for audio recording technology equals my passion for music. The turning point from just wanting to record it into being part of a scene started at a Suicidal Tendencies show. I was standing in a crowd at 3 am, and someone turned to me and said, "Hey, do you wanna go up?" They then crossed their hands for me to step into it and threw me up in the crowd; I was hooked from that point on. I would see as many shows as possible. Seeing all these bands that were just starting out and eventually getting to play on the same stage or at the same show/festivals with them was incredible. Bands like Biohazard, D.R.I., Agnostic Front, Murphy's Law, Hatebreed, Leeway, and Judge (to name a few) for the hardcore influence.

Metal bands like Pantera, Metallica, and Megadeth were a huge influence on songwriting in a heavy style. Then the scene changed with bands like Glassjaw, Dillinger Escape Plan, VOD, Poison the Well, Slipknot, and Etown Concrete. I could keep writing band influences for days. The one band that made me want to keep performing and writing new music was Every Time I Die. Everything they did was great. Their last few records, produced and recorded by Will Putney, sounded amazing. They had everything I wanted in a band. Sick riffs, crazy breakdowns, clever lyrics that are screamed right into your face, and great melody vocal lines—and once you expect that to be every song, they switch it up to something unexpected. If you follow the scene, then you know that the band broke up, but three members, joined by Will and Greg from Dillinger, started Better Lovers. They are my most influential band at the moment. Highly Irresponsible is a great record. Plus, they are sick live. I saw them last week for the second time. I will be going again. 

Anthony: Basically, inspiration for Bleed The Gods for me and probably the other guys is unfinished business: Awesome Diesel recordings that never got out and a fucking love to still do it.

I know you all have a history with other bands, such as Bliss To Devastation, Diesel, and Subject To Change. In what ways has the journey of Bleed The Gods differed from your previous musical endeavors? What shifts have you experienced that have made this project stand out?

Sam: I made a lot of good memories and played a lot of awesome shows with my old band, From Bliss to Devastation. It was a great lesson on what works and what doesn't. This time I get to express myself and make music I love for fun - no pressure. At this point in my life, it feels right to get back into music. I have experienced life, all the good and bad that comes with it—I have a lot to express and get off my chest.

John: I was driven when I was younger to a fault. I pushed the STC band as hard as I could and pissed a lot of band members off. Some of that drive paid off because we got to play the "Big Day Off" with bands from Ozzfest like Slipknot, Marilyn Manson, Disturbed, Linkin Park, and many other amazing shows with so many great groups. Some national, but many local. It was like a huge family because you just kept seeing the same faces and were happy to see them. Looking back, I could not really enjoy what I was doing due to my drive. I was also pushing to succeed, so it was a lot of pressure. This opportunity to make this type of music with Sam, Mike, and Anthony is a blessing. I love this style, and to enjoy it and share these moments with these fine gentlemen is a gift.

Instrumentally, there is a myriad of different heavy energies that whirl around your new single, "Bleed The Gods." Being that you have been in different projects in the past, what was something instrumentally you guys wanted to do differently that you didn't get the chance to explore in other projects? Do you feel you accomplished that with this new single?

Sam: This single is pretty much what I normally do vocally, but John and I have been toying with adding some clean vocals in certain parts of some of our other songs. I've never sung cleanly before, and I am thrilled to finally have the chance to showcase a different side of my voice.

Mike: Before this song had lyrics, it told a story. When I was involved in the writing of songs in the past, I was focused on the transitions of energy and staging their impact. Play fast, then hit with a heavy breakdown when they don’t expect it. “Bleed the Gods”, from its inception, was laid out differently.

John: There is no tension (also a great band) here. All of us are older and just want to enjoy what we are doing together. I write and record a lot of music in all styles due to working in the audio industry. The feeling of playing heavy music while a crowd of people who are screaming the lyrics back to you louder than you can amplify them is incredible. I believe all of us wanted to create something that would satisfy our taste and desire to be part of something strong. When writing music, we would want to see if we were watching a band. Anthony's drums are relentless. Mike's bass sounds deep and heavy. Sam's lyrics are relatable and passionate. I hope people who feel the way we do really enjoy this first song and look forward to hearing more.

Lyrically, "Bleed The Gods" explores the intense, unresolved grief of losing a loved one. Can we talk about the inspirations for this new single?

Sam: A few years ago, I was mentally lost for a while, depressed and angry after losing my best friend. I was throwing myself into non-stop work and drinking a lot. I had to find an outlet to express my grief in a healthy way--holding the pain in was killing me. The lyrics that became "Bleed the Gods" are from a note I wrote that will never be read by the eyes it was meant for. It also just happened to inspire our band name.

John: This goes straight to Sam when we were working through the recording, which is when I really got to hear the energy and emotion in his lyrics. Listening to him pour his soul into the performance was amazing. I think he did a great job, and I know things are going up from here.

What is something you feel you learned about yourselves during this process?

Sam: One thing I've learned throughout this process is that I am capable of more than I realize. I thank my wife and bandmates for helping to instill a confidence I haven't felt in years.

John: Unfinished business can haunt you. I am not done with creating heavy music. I never felt as proud of doing recordings in the past. I am with this song and with these guys. The lineup fits because we all get along, have like-minded ideas, and want to see where this can take us. I literally enjoy the time spent together. Years ago, that was not the case. I wanted people to do what I needed them to do and then get out of my way. Sounds crazy when you write it out. Haha!

What is next for you guys?

Sam: We're going to release our second single, film our first music video with the legendary Tom Flynn, and finish this EP. We also have our debut show on 7/18/25 at AMH in Amityville with an amazing group of bands celebrating the 20th anniversary of Cipher's "Children of God's Fire" LP. The show and the full lineup are to be announced in the coming weeks, so keep your eyes on our Instagram for the announcement.

John: More sick riffs, pounding drums, intense vocals, and thunderous bass.