REVIEW: RØRY - BLOODLETTING

RØRY has built a career on saying the things many people struggle to admit. Across her music, she has turned trauma, recovery, anger and the messiness of simply trying to survive into songs that feel painfully honest. That honesty has earned her a fiercely loyal audience, and with BLOODLETTING, set for release on 11th September, she appears ready to take that relationship with her listeners somewhere darker.

The hype surrounding the album has already been building at a serious pace. RØRY has introduced DEGRADATION, SWALLOW, KIDS THESE DAYS, and DEAD GIRL WALKING to Spotify, while strange having its live debut at Download festival. Those tracks have quickly become favourites among fans, making bloodletting one of her most anticipated releases yet. And based on the album as a whole, the excitement is completely justified.

[welcome to the bloodletting] opens the record like a warning. It does not feel like a gentle introduction, but more like the moment before you willingly step into something you already know is going to hurt. The tone is set immediately: whatever RØRY is about to put herself through, she is taking us with her. Then comes DEGRADATION. The opening beat is absolutely insane and immediately makes you wonder just how far RØRY is willing to push herself vocally. The screams are something that fans will be waiting to hear more of as the album continues, and this song delivers some of the heaviest material we have ever heard from her. It is a massive step into a darker and heavier sound, but somehow it still fits her perfectly.

SWALLOW immediately shows another side of RØRY’s versatility. The difference between this and the previous track is huge, proving just how much ground she covers throughout the album. Lyrically, it is another standout, while the rap section in the middle is beautiful, especially as it builds around the repeated "swallow, swallow, swallow me". It is one of those moments that sticks with you long after the song ends. a cure for cancer is arguably the most emotionally difficult track on the record. You can hear that this is a tough one. There is a real weight to the performance that makes it feel almost uncomfortable to listen to at times, but that is exactly what makes it so powerful. MORTAL brings in hints of Bring Me The Horizon, while still remaining unmistakably RØRY. The combination works incredibly well. It is a direction that feels natural rather than forced, and honestly, after hearing this, we definitely need more of it.

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The broadcast-style message of [the death of a people pleaser] brings an eerie atmosphere to the album before KIDS THESE DAYS kicks in. Already a fan favourite, it is an amazing song with a strong meaning behind it, while its music video only added another layer to the experience. Unique and memorable, it is no surprise this track has already found its way onto plenty of on-repeat playlists. DEAD GIRL WALKING is a definite standout song from the album. It is ridiculously catchy, but the heavier beats still hit perfectly. The balance between accessibility and aggression is what makes it work so well, and it feels like one of the clearest examples of RØRY pushing her sound forward without losing what made people connect with her in the first place.

GREY brings another shift in mood before [oh when the saints] acts as a fitting introduction to hometown. The interlude gives a small insight into RØRY’s return to Southampton, her hometown, before the song itself explores her complicated relationship with the place and the struggles within it. hometown feels deeply personal, especially knowing the struggles she faced going back there on the blossom tour. The acoustic elements bring out both the emotion and meaning behind the track, giving it a sense of vulnerability that cuts through the album’s heavier moments.

STRANGE is one of the slower and more meaningful songs on the album, but somehow that makes it one of the most impactful. Having already been played at Download, the song has given fans a glimpse of just how powerful it can be in a live setting, and in the context of the album, it hits even harder. Finally, [do you want to live] brings BLOODLETTING back to the question at its heart. Featuring messages around why people choose to keep living, it is an incredibly emotional moment and creates a powerful connection between RØRY and her #37club.

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BLOODLETTING is not an easy album, and it is not supposed to be. It is heavier, darker and more emotionally confrontational than anything RØRY has done before. From rage and grief to mortality and survival, every part of the record feels like an attempt to dig something out that has been buried for too long. And maybe that is what makes BLOODLETTING so powerful. This is RØRY refusing to be nice about her pain. Refusing to soften the edges. Refusing to hide the ugly emotions that so many people are taught to bury. The result is her heaviest and most ambitious album yet.

Score: 10/10

BLOODLETTING will be released on 11th September 2026 via SADCØRE Records.

Words: Jack Norris

Photos: Derek Bremner