BITTER KIND - INTROSPECTION REVIEW
- Kaylah Chilcott
- Jul 13, 2025
- 2 min read
Melbourne metalcore outfit, Bitter Kind, are back with a two-track single INTROSPECTION. Described as “two sides of the same coin”, INTROSPECTION is the EPIC follow up to their 2024 EP, Turmoil.
Bitter Kind has a heavy metalcore sound, with crushing guitars, packed vocals, and consuming lows that leave you gasping for air. While Turmoil was exploration of grief, despair and inner chaos, INTROSPECTION spends time in self reflection and growth, making both of these releases the perfect compliment to each other. Mix and mastered by Kye Blomeley, Bitter Kind’s INTROSPECTION is a force to be reckoned with.
‘20TWENTY’ leads you in with ambient drums and heavy chugs, before turning into a groovy blend of instruments, switching up the riffs, pacing and substance every few bars, producing an interesting hook. The vocals sit higher in the metalcore register, at times branching to a rawer sound, inserting a deeper feeling to the song.
It’s definitely the slower of the two tracks, not a constant assault on the senses, dipping between a more stripped back noise to a packed sound, and doesn’t leave you stuck with sustained repetition. While I felt that it could have been a bit busier at times, the breakdown is tough, dragging out every note for an absolutely formidable outro. '20TWENTY' is bass and guttural heavy, which I think pairs really well with slower pacing and intense guitars, creating an emotional, yet intimidating track.
For the other side of the coin, ‘DRAGON’S MIRROR’ opens as an immediate wall of sound. It’s as though you’re already part way through the song when it’s just begun, with aggressive vocals and guitars out the gate. When paired with '20TWeNTY', this is a bit less jarring but just as powerful. The snare punches straight through the mix as a driving force before they eventually drop the pace a little and give you space to breathe. The vocals dance between a higher scream and lower growl, creating similar dynamics between the heavier groove of the guitars compared to their biting riffs.
Start to finish, ‘DRAGON’S MIRROR’ is an energetic assault that leaves just enough space for you to come up for air, before driving back down to the deep.
Both INTROSPECTION tracks compliment each other, utilising similar pacing AND BEATS to keep them interconnected, and the consistent changes to depth keeps your attention locked. Still early in their career, Bitter Kind are looking like they’ll turn into a driving force within the Australian music scene, and I think they’re ready to start looking at a full album release.
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