Crossfade have come a long way. The band's self-titled debut record, released in the early 2000s, was met with widespread critical denouncing. Their sophomore effort brimmed with unpleasant alternative rock anthems. Miserable sales resulted in the band getting dropped by Columbia Records, which in turn worsened vocalist Ed Sloan's depression and drug addiction. All of these experiences are showcased in We All Bleed's melancholic compositions.
The album starts off heavy with "Dead Memories".
Similar bands in the hard rock genre present a figurative songwriting approach, but this frequently results in the artist coming off as ostentatious. Crossfade instead feature a more blunt lyrical style. Poeticism is nowhere to be found here. "Lay Me Down" wins the award of most disturbing song. Crooning vulnerably, Ed Sloan sings, "I'm useless / I'm done / I've written letters to the ones I've loved so much that it / Hurts to say goodbye". The song closes with sadistic condemnation of an individual: "You don't know anything that makes me feel alive / Except making you bleed five times in one night / You know you deserved it". Shreds of hope appear throughout the record but they are indeed uncommon.
Despite typically being classified as a mainstream rock album, several of We All Bleed's tracks are progressive-tinged. "Suffocate" begins quiet and ominous, gradually building into a wall of bass and rhythm guitar. The final minutes feature Les Hall shredding wildly as ever, with Sloan howling in the background. "Dear Cocaine" follows a similar formula. Gentle acoustic and piano riffs give way to a dark, menacing outro, featuring wah-ridden guitar reminiscent of early Alice in Chains. It's at this moment the listener realizes how much Crossfade have evolved and matured musically.
Of course, We All Bleed isn't free of missteps. The blunt writing method discussed earlier fails miserably in "Prove You Wrong".
Subtle operatic effects are used in "I Think You Should Know", a depressingly beautiful song.
"We All Bleed" is the title track. An individual is condemned aggressively. Dark and psychotic latter half.
"Open Up Your Eyes" features a simple yet highly effective guitar solo. The final chorus displays one of the album's few hopeful moments.
"Make Me a Believer" has a ten minute run-length. Multiple false endings.
