PRODUCT OF NEGLECT: BLEEDER OF DREAMS SINGLE REVIEW
Meanjin/Brisbane Deathcore Quintet Product of Neglect have dropped their latest single, Bleeder of Dreams, and you are going to need a pillow for your jaw as it hits the floor. PoN debuted onto the scene in 2022 with their single Perpetual Night, followed by Album Synthetic Freedom (2024) and EP Sixies in Three's (2025). As someone who raised themselves on bands like Whitechapel, The Black Dahlia Murder, Infant Innihilator and
Suicide Silence, Bleeder of Dreams is the ultimate early birthday present in a release. Help me, Silence concedes in my mind, Violence awaits while I’m paralysed, It bends and breaks me, It hurts, it takes me, It invades me, contortion breaks thee, Mouth sown shut, Faceless fuck. In truth, my first play through of Bleeder was the morning of release at my Kitchen counter while I made my son's school lunch. Collectively as a family we stood listening with stank faces set to max and expressions of "Holy shit" and "Get it boys" on our tongues. Once the song had finished I immediately sent Vocalist Brandon a message of "Respectfully, HOLY FUCK!" Normally I would try to find a more eloquent and professional way of expressing this in a review, but, it is the purest reaction to this song that I have, and as fellow Alternative music enthusiasts, I know that you all understand that sentiment.
The lyrics don't have a straightforward story, instead progressing like scattered memories. "Haunting Possession in my Dreams", "Visceral Discrepancies" and recurring visions all flash past in fragments, making the song feel disorienting without becoming confusing. It's a clever approach that reflects how dreams are often remembered; Terrifying moments sown together incoherently rather than a complete story. Phrases repeated like "You're asleep" and "Open your eyes" become unsettling each time they return, Acting almost like the voice inside your own head trying to pull you back from this nightmare.
Rigor-mortis in my sleep, Peeling flesh upon my feet, Body contorting, mind distorting, My flesh, Withered upon thee, Visceral discrepancies, Can’t tell what I can see, My Reality, Bending internally, Around.
I was introduced to Brandon (and by extension PoN) by accident (or perhaps divine fate) during a Bodyprison performance at The Outpost in Brisbane last year as he took to the stage as a guest vocalist. I had no idea who this man was, but I was immediately blown away by his vocal control and ability to enunciate with such speed and variety of technique. After hunting him down through Bodyprison, I was hooked. Being able to perform a vocal technique and being understood clearly while you do so are two entirely separate things. You will not be disappointed throughout Bleeders, as he dips into his bag of skills and pulls everything from tunnels, devastatingly low gutterals and banshee style highs out, and
everything in between. During ScasmFest I was lucky enough to have a conversation with Brandon about vocal techniques, styles and microphone hacks and the passion in which he spoke exudes into every vocal performance. If you are interested in learning more about how Brandon approaches his vocals, he participated in our first round of Behind the Mic, which you can read here.
Bleeder of Dreams isn't just about monsters hiding in the dark, it's about the fear your own mind can manufacture, sleep paralysis is something a lot of people experience, but unless you've lived through it, it's almost impossible to explain that feeling of being awake and completely powerless. We attempted to translate that helplessness into sound, creating a track that feels as oppressive and inescapable as the nightmares that inspire it.
Faceless shapes, hunting me, Swirling mists, all around, Familiar shapes and themes, Haunting possession in my dreams, Shapes turning from me, Familiar faces I see, Corpses Melting, Falling entrails, A warning I Never heed, Never heed, Things I thought I’d never see, Never See. Bleeder trickle feeds you for the first ten seconds, with a guitar run that feels like your warning to get into the pit before hell is unleashed. The track is an
account of sleep paralysis and PoN portrays that concept in such an interesting way. The rhythm flows like panicked breath; harsh intakes and frantic movements consume you as your body is overcome with finding reality in the darkness and chaos; all while being held at the terrifying point of not being able to inhale. I found myself feeling nauseous the longer I listened to the guitars and it fits in line with experiences I have had with sleep demons before. There is something about the way they layer amongst themselves that keeps you in a place of unease and dread. Drummer Michael seems to have taken to the kit with a vengeance for Bleeders, as you are hit with a whirlwind of sound from the cymbals, snare, toms and bass. Points of the track sounding akin to machine gun fire he attacks with such ferocity. All-in-all, Product of Neglect has grabbed the throat of the scene with Bleeder of Dreams, and I cannot wait to see what they give us next. Silence Concedes in my mind. Violence awaits while I’m paralysed, Silence Concedes in my mind, You’re asleep. Open your eyes.
Product of Neglect will be out on tour this month with Hate Complex as part of the Dissonacnce East Coast Tour. You can grab your tickets from the link. You can read all about our experience seeing PoN as the Headliner of ScasmFest25 here.
You can find updates for Product of Neglect at their website.
For Fans Of: The Black Dahlia Murder, Chelsea Grin, Infant Annihilator and Whitechapel
10/10
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