Austin, Texas-based rock/metal outfit Bridges Ablaze recently released their single, “Numb,” an atmospheric metal track reminiscent of Breaking Benjamin amalgamated with Trivium.
Simultaneously potent and melodically alluring, “Numb” features rich, thrumming surfaces highlighted by wistful, evocative vocals and a dazzling guitar on the solo section. Powered by a slower mid-tempo rhythm, the harmonics ebb and rise on slick textures.
Made up of core members Brien Allen and Ruben Zamora, Bridges Ablaze doesn’t alter their identity to any one idea. Rather, they draw from specific influences, ranging from deathcore to jazz and beyond, to craft their own sound that is equal parts unique and anthemic.
Bridges Ablaze’s sound blends elements from deathcore to jazz to djent to pop punk and beyond. Lyrically, they express real life experiences, at once relatable and cathartic, allowing listeners to feel authentic emotions like excitement, joy, sadness, or anger.
Since 2022, the band has been releasing singles and music videos consistently, amassing more than 30,000 monthly listeners, as well as one million streams on Spotify and millions of views on YouTube,
Tattoo.com spoke with Bridges Ablaze to explore how “Numb” came together, their influences, their gear, and what’s next for the band.
How would you describe your own music?
It’s a combination of all of our influences. That said, rock or metal mostly. Each song is definitely unique though. We strive to implement different styles in just about every song to keep things fresh with our listeners.
Can you share the inspiration behind “Numb,” and the creative process involved in bringing it to life?
Well, lyrically it was inspired by a breakup that happened the same day we tracked vocals. Musically, it was truly a collaborative process between everyone in the room. Each of us imagined appropriate parts in sequence and it came together effortlessly. We definitely couldn’t have done it without each other.
How did you get started in music?
We started years ago in school band. Eventually we both stumbled upon the guitar after encountering classic rock hits in middle school.
Which musicians/singers influenced your sound?
We are inspired by many artists of many genres, including Bullet For My Valentine, Escape The Fate, Falling In Reverse, Killswitch Engage, Dragonforce, Light The Torch, Architects, VOLA, I Prevail, Atreyu, Polyphia, Plini, Chon, Intervals, Fit For A King, ERRA, Periphery, Northlane, Tesseract, Times Of Grace, Any Given Day, Slipknot, The Color Morale, Bring Me The Horizon, Ghost, Like Moths To Flames, Pantera, Metallica, Machine Head, Testament, Guns N’ Roses, Megadeth, Scorpions, Ozzy Osbourne, Van Halen, Queen, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Incubus, Lady Gaga, Linkin Park, Celine Dion, Daft Punk, Mac Miller, Hans Zimmer, etc.
Who is in Bridges Ablaze and which instruments do they play?
Brien and Ruben are the main members. Robby is our producer, and he helps with a lot too. We write and/or perform pretty much everything (from vocals and lyrics to lead guitars, bass, and drum ideas, etc.). For live rhythm guitars, bass, and drums, we are in the process of recruiting and hiring a lineup for shows and tours.
What kind of guitar, pedals, and amps are you using?
We love to use Ibanez, Shecter & PRS guitar brands. As of right now, we both own Line 6 Amps that we use to practice with one another. For live shows, it’ll likely be Helix floorboards.
Now, I do want to ask as well, what’s been the highlight of your career so far? Maybe touring or who you’ve played with, something that’s really stood out.
Oh gosh. We’ve had some cool things happen even up to this point. I’d say, one of the most striking moments is when we had a fan come forward and say our music saved their spouse’s life. Another moment is when we discovered ‘Heartbroken Angel’ had 15 million streams on TikTok, or that ‘Hellbent’ was added to a major metal VEVO playlist. We also recently have had the honor to attend “Escape The Fate’s Emo Orchestra” concert in Austin, TX! Having the opportunity to speak with Craig Mabbit after the show was an honor as we are both huge fans!
Which do you enjoy the most: writing, recording, practicing, or playing live?
Honestly, it’s so hard to choose. We love ALL of it. It is such a blessing to be on this planet doing what we do. Music is a gift that never fails to give back constantly in some way. We are also excited to play LIVE for you all within the near future!
What’s next for you?
‘Apocalypse,’ our next song, drops June 12th on all platforms. The video drops a few days after on the 17th! This video is our biggest production yet, so we are very excited to share with you all!
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