BLEEDING SORROW was created in 2021 as a side project of Mortcer, founding member of VAGROND, as a vessel to carry on the Post Black Metal sound of VAGROND's early work. "Drowning" is the band's debut release, exploring depression and feelings of isolation. "The songs are a deeply emotional and melodic take on the genre. Cold guitar tones drenched in reverb create a symphony of sadness, heightened by the shrill wailing vocals, while upbeat drum patterns provide an uplifting feel." The album contains six tracks.

"Grief" leads us off. It's a short mood-setting instrumental. Clean, harmonized guitars paint a bleak picture of the world, as one might expect from the title of the song. "Sombre" begins with that wall of sound often associated with Black Metal. The production is a bit muted for my tastes. Melody abounds however, much to my liking. Screams can be heard throughout the song, but the melodies are both somber and pretty. "Drowning" opens with clean guitars and a melancholy feeling. The song titles here are all about the darker and sadder parts of life. The vocal wails remind you of this. But the music is harmonized and quite charming. I just wish the production was a bit clearer...it would allow the melodies to shine more.

"Sorrow" hears the solemn tones continue. I really like the guitar work in this song. It's complex but also easy to assimilate. Take away the vocal screams and you have a soundtrack of both the sublime and the harrowing end of days. The way Mortcer combines these two is very well done. As the guitars begin to build, you feel your sense of consciousness heightened. "Ripples" begins with a full-on guitar sound that retreats to soft waves crashing against the shoreline. Then, it comes the screams and lead guitar harmonies. Peel back the guitar layers and you will have a sense for how well Mortcer creates music.

"Surge" closes the album. It features some very somber melodies as well as some sophisticated songwriting. The emotions he is able to pull from the music are impressive. Watch the video and look for symbolism, especially as she enters the water and her expressionless face as she sinks. The early assessment of the album is indeed very close to how it sounds. It is quite emotional and melodic. A somber offering for waning October days. The screams represent all that is bad in life...your feelings of grief and insecurity are amplified. But the music touches a part of your soul that often doesn't get stimulated. Nicely done!