I’ve been riding with Chevelle since Point #1 came out in ’99, and every new album is like checking in with an old friend—you want to see what’s changed and what’s stayed the same. With Bright as Blasphemy, their tenth album, the Loeffler brothers still bring the muscle. But this time around, there are a couple of things that caught me off guard.
It kicks off with Pale Horse, which sets the mood perfectly—slow, heavy, and full of that tension Chevelle does so well. Rabbit Hole (Cowards, Pt. 1) and Jim Jones (Cowards, Pt. 2) come in swinging, with tight riffs and a darker edge that really works.
One thing of note- the mix feels a little different- maybe not as much chest-punching power as some of their older stuff, but the riffs still land, the drums still hit, and Pete’s vocals still cut right through.
There’s still a lot of variety. Hallucinations floats in this weird, dreamlike space that’s easy to get lost in. Wolves (Love & Light) bites hard, Karma Goddess plays with quiet tension and sudden bursts, and the closer—Shocked at the End of the World—wraps everything up in a big, haunting finish that stuck with me.
This is still Chevelle through and through. Pete’s vocals cut sharp, Sam’s drumming feels like a gut punch, and the songwriting keeps things interesting from start to finish. It’s a little moodier and maybe a touch more restrained than some of their past work, but it’s still a ride worth taking.
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