Love Rhymes with Hideous Car Wrecks

The Blood Brothers formed in the Eastside suburbs of Seattle, Washington in 1997. They lasted 10 years and spawned five beautiful and inspiring albums. I really wish these five guys were still making music together. The Blood Brothers were like a band from my dreams. It was as if my love for The Rocky Horror Picture Show, morbid and theatrical lyrics, and hardcore music all came together as a music group who made nothing but amazing songs.

The Blood Brothers are absolutely a band that you could enjoy every single piece of music they came out with. If you’re like me, there are a lot of bands out there that you would say you liked because you really love some of their songs, but you find yourself unable to enjoy other material by them. I had gone into some Blood Brothers tracks thinking that I would hate them and afterwards discovering that these were some of my favourite songs in the whole world.

I had come upon them by downloading the song “Crimes” by accident. Not a bad song for an introduction to them. Needless to say, it was the one that got me hooked but it definitely didn’t turn out to be one of my favourites. They have so many masterpieces to choose from. When I got my first real taste of the vocals, I had a strong feeling that I would end up pushing their music away. It was rather reminiscent of emo/screamo music, which I can’t stand for the life of me. Nevertheless, I gave it a chance and discovered a remarkable band of truly gifted musicians and experimentalists.The duelling vocals of Jordan Blilie and Johnny Whitney are nothing short of perfect as they bring you into their surreal stories. Their lyrics will make you feel like you need to wash ice off your spine, but they are so lovely in that twisted way.

They were able to pull off a show tune/Broadway-like sound without making me feel like I was listening to something as bubblegum as Panic at the Disco. In one particular song off the album Young Machetes, they go from thrashing guitars and throat shredding screams to singing à la cabaret. The style itself seems like something that would throw you off but it works wonderfully. It feels like it couldn’t have been done right any other way. One of the best songs in my opinion, “Giant Swan”, makes me feel like I’m listening to a lounge singer when it starts off. Cabaret and lounge music? I never thought I could appreciate anything that had that stuff incorporated into it, but The Blood Brothers did it. They are true artists and have outstanding musical ability to manipulate such styles to make something so worthwhile and all their own.

They have a lot to offer you, but I strongly suggest looking into the album Young Machetes. It was the fifth and final album. Although The Blood Brothers are over, I can assure you that they will be an influence on more great music to come.