After a strong start with the band's debut EP and full-length recording, Suicide Silence had quickly become a household name in the Deathcore style. One of the main concerns for the group, however, is whether or not that popularity was by their own solid sound and Brutal Death Metal approach to the Deathcore style, or if it was the rather obvious support that the chain retailer Hot Topic had given them with the release of that album. While the support was still there for their second full-length effort, No Time to Bleed, it was clear the band wanted to really push their name more into the scene, and with that the group fell prey to some of the more generic and stereotypical ideas of the whole Deathcore approach.
While the band's signature chugging brutality that often isn't the most unique from one track to another does still remain on many tracks, No Time to Bleed quickly became a copycat of then hip bands like Waking the Cadaver and Job for a Cowboy pre-Death Metal era and at times even current. The production even showed this well with the much cleaner, less deep and brutalizing approach. The guitars sounded heavy but not as intense as the band had been known for. The bass also doesn't make much of an impact here either, though it's still present and can be heard, but not quite as felt. The drums work out, though the snares at times can sound hollow and the bass kicks feel a little limp as well. The vocals are about the same, but this time the gutturals don't feel like they are being cupped, but instead have some digital alteration and distortion to them to sound deeper, while the rhaspy screams sound more human. But, does this wind up lasting through the entire album and casting Suicide Silence into the pile of Deathcore idol-worshippers?
No Time to Bleed starts off with the track "Wake Up", which was pushed more as the lead single to the recording. While it's not that bad a song, there's just so much dead air thanks to the more skipping sound of the guitars leaving much of the track to sound like an Emmure style breakdown-heavy song from start to finish, but not really being one. There's also a number of breakdowns in the song, but they end being slow and lazy without much of an impact to them at all. Outside some of the more solid and rich sounding moments and constant screaming of "Wake up!" throughout the track, the song really does not do much to stand out in the quickly growing Deathcore style as unique, or even original. The same can be said for "Lifted" in many ways, though a more traditional Death Metal approach can be heard to the music at times, but again moving at such a slow, tedious pace that it feels like the band is stuck in the first gear and can't seem to switch over into another other available gear to get out of the constant slow breakdown concept.
But, for as atrocious as these two songs ultimately come off, the atmosphere to the recording is hard to deny, and is made present right from the start. Though it doesn't quite feel like a bludgeoning release full of intense Deathcore and brutality, it still sounds vile and grim, and when the songs manage to really pull it away from the traditional staples of the style, Suicide Silence really can break the the preconceptions the listener will have from the start. "Smite" becomes one of the first tracks that really engages the listener. The track's blistering pace and absolute fury really makes you want to get up and start punching everyone and anyone, but not in the same negative sense the release made you feel upon it's start. Instead the faster pace and energetic performance really sets up a brutal atmosphere to the recording that is undeniable, and even the breakdowns hold up strongly in comparison, never really feeling empty or hollow from a lazier pace and suit the album perfectly, especially thanks to some of the ambience that may appear, like what seems to be background ghastly wails of agony that taper off as the final breakdown closes in to execution. This is where No Time to Bleed picks up and really drives the point home into the listener's skull with various tracks of tight music full of energy and brutality. "...And Then She Bled" has an audio sample playing in the background of the slower music that sound punishing and matches the eerily creepy atmosphere that the sample behind it gives off, which is a 911 audio recording of a woman speaking with an operator about a friend who was killed and someone out to kill her, and even though it sounds staged it's a bit hard to listen to at times, both due to the thought that calls like it do happen, and how low it is in the background thanks to the music.
"...And Then she Bled" does fade out, but does seem to work as an introduction to "Wasted" that feels more like a transition then anything else. This song has a decent amount of energy, but due to the lack of a strong, deeper bass driven sound, the track doesn't really offer much to get worked up to, unlike the many other tracks that did just follow it. The band's more Brutal Death Metal approach to the song is admirable, and though it's not heavy enough, it's still a solid performance and enjoyable track for what it is. The following tracks also have this vibe to them, that they aren't the strongest the band has to offer, and they come off a little tamer then what they band can really produce, but that could very well be from the general production quality, as well as the more obvious "-core" influence the band puts in that comes off more as a fanservice to those who like having more slower breakdowns, not really concentrating on anything else. While the music between the breakdowns are still good, it feels a little weak, as if it's tacked on to avoid the music becoming another "Wake Up" or "Lifted". This is actually a bit depressng given how well the band manages to take the ideas of these last few tracks, but amplify them into feriocious, inhuman behemoths of Deathcore tracks on "Smite" and the intense title track "No Time to Bleed".
Overall, No Time to Bleed doesn't really feel like a Suicide Silence CD, but rather a release full of fan service. The songs have a stronger focus on breakdowns, and some of them can be bland, boring, and lazy as hell, especially at the start of the album. However, the album does pick up speed out of nowhere, which is good, but again the album eventually just starts to cater to the generic concepts and ideas of the style without really focusing on a more unique or original approach to the album, falling in line with bands trying to emulate the sound and/or success of the infamous leaders of the style like Emmure, Job for a Cowboy, and Waking the Cadavre. The brutality level is not really here for more then a few songs, and outside that it varies between an atmosphere that does feel vile and slightly brutalizing, more in a playful manner like a wild animal with it's recent kill, it just feels rather tame and restrained. No Time to Bleed ends up being a showcase of their material, as well as of the current trends of today that simply don't sound like Suicide Silence, and it greatly hurts them this time around despite feeding the fans who don't care about originality or unique approaches to the music. Overall, No Time to Bleed simply is not worth the time or trouble outside a few key songs for the second third of this release.
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