Review
The Bellicose Minds
The Spine

Black Water (2013) Jon E.

The Bellicose Minds – The Spine cover artwork
The Bellicose Minds – The Spine — Black Water, 2013

Whole genres are made off the backs of originators. Sometimes these genres become forgotten for awhile or just bogged down with repetition and simplicity. Every once in awhile a band sheds mere aping to become something interesting, yet familiar. Something clearly within genre stereotypes but with their own sense of interpretation. The Bellicose Minds are one of those on the interesting side. While darkwave, goth rock, or any of their conjunctions is nothing new at this point (nor is chasing Joy Division’s shadow for that matter), the Bellicose Minds bring their own little splash to the formula on their first full-length. 

The dark shadows, heavy bass, jittery drums, and monotone vocals are certainly all present. Somehow even with all of these things something feels different with this record. From the more rugged texture to the songs and the little punk touches at moments nothing feels entirely in the realm of copycatting. 

From the genre signifiers you could gather whether you would like this album or not. What can be confidently said by anyone is that The Bellicose Minds feel and sound entirely comfortable with what they do and make it sound more original than most of the bands that share their style.

8.0 / 10Jon E. • May 19, 2014

See also

bellicoseminds.bandcamp.com

The Bellicose Minds – The Spine cover artwork
The Bellicose Minds – The Spine — Black Water, 2013

Related news

A389 signs The Bellicose Minds from Portland

Posted in Labels on July 23, 2013

Recently-posted album reviews

Spillings

Spillings
The Garotte (2026)

Spillings is a minimalist reconfiguration undertaken by two artists whose careers have been about genre deconstruction. The paths of Mathieu Ball and Liam Andrews have been running on parallel tracks, but both have been aiming for a similar endpoint. That is to strip down the heavy, experimental rock form, while at the same time retaining its destabilizing core. With Big … Read more

Pacifist

Five
Independent (2026)

There’s a reason five doesn’t feel like just another EP title. This isn’t a casual release or a stopgap between bigger moves but a line in the sand. On their latest five song statement, Bombay’s Pacifist sound fully aware of the lineage they’re working within, and just as aware of how much effort it takes to keep those ideals alive … Read more

Pure Intention

Pure Intention
Independent (2026)

Pure Intentions is a hard hitting punk band first emerging in the Chicago scene in 2020. Since its formation by Joe Asshole and Tommy Volume, they have since added Judson Jones in 2024 to become its current standing trio. During that time, these guys have spread their gritty sound by touring the United States while gaining a strong following along … Read more