Album Review: Upon a Burning Body – Blood of the Bull (Self Released)

Groove metal Texans, Upon a Burning Body, are back with their brand-new album, ‘Blood of the Bull’. Released on December 5th, 2025.

On the one hand, Upon a Burning Body keep it really simple here. Delivering a bevy of riff-based groove-infused metal with slamming tendencies. Whereas on the other hand, this is up there as one of their most experimental releases to date. Finding the band exploring metalcore territories and delivering poppier choruses. It’s a fascinating listen, thirty-odd minutes of varied, but familiar, metal that has plenty of banging moments, with just the occasional misstep here and there.

One such banging moment comes early on with the menacing Hand of God, a track with intensity running through it like a thick vein. Vocalist Danny Leal sounds particularly vicious here and it has got some kick ass riffs. Another is Killshot, an adrenaline injection of drum-focused brutality, breakdown included. A pair that might make you think it’s pretty much the ‘same old’ except along comes Daywalker, with its atmospheric intro, poppy chorus and moody clean touches, to change the tone. It’s one hell of a contrast, but it works because Upon a Burning Body know how to balance the different styles.

It’s the kind of shift that does give the album a bit more life even if there’s nothing particularly fresh about it.

The fast-paced and groovy riffs are back with in full force on Vultures, before we get another intriguing tonal shift with Another Ghost. A melodic intro gives way to a potent display of crunchy heaviness, but almost immediately, it switches to cleaner tones and a blend of vocal styles, before an uneven sounding chorus hits. Clean to the point of being jarring.

It’s not that I’m demanding heavy Upon a Burning Body either. Sure, I really dig crushing efforts like Dragged Through Glass and Curse Breaker, but I also dig the hell out of anthemic chorus-driven efforts like Living in a Matrix and Reckless Love. Although the latter, the finale, does have some cringe moments.

Did I mention that Upon a Burning also include some of their beloved mariachi moments? Not just with the intro of Sagre del Toro, but on An Insatiable Hunger too? It’s a cool touch that makes the album all the more personal to them.

Overall, a good album that ticks boxes, but has enough fresh ideas to encourage new listeners to give it a shot. Upon A Burning Body’s long term fans will probably come away the most satisfied though.

Upon A Burning Body – Blood of the Bull Track Listing:

1. Sangre del Toro
2. Hand of God
3. Killshot
4. Daywalker
5. Vultures
6. Another Ghost
7. Dragged Through Glass
8. Living in a Matrix
9. Curse Breaker
10. An Insatiable Hunger
11. Reckless Love

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