UMUR "Bleed for Us to Live" is the debut full-length studio album by US, Ohio based death metal act Gutted. The album was released through Red Light Records in March 1994. The band was formed in 1990 under the Demigod monicker, but they changed their name to Gutted in 1992. The lineup features no less than three brothers in Mark Ditch (vocals, bass, keyboards), Scott Ditch (drums), and Michael Ditch (guitars (lead & rhythm)). In addition to the Ditch brothers the lineup also counts Billy Mills (guitars (lead, rhythm, acoustic)).

Stylistically Gutted plays what I´d characterize as pretty standard early 90s US death metal (predominantly mid-paced). It´s well played, relatively well composed (it´s fairly consistent in style but very few tracks stand out), and decently produced (lacks a bit of punch), but it lacks a personal sound. It doesn´t help that the guys are a bit late to the game releasing the album in 1994, when the death metal scene was starting it´s decline, but that of course doesn´t take away from the quality of "Bleed for Us to Live".

...and it is overall a decent quality death metal release. Brutal and relatively intelligible growling vocals, solid heavy rhythm work, and downtuned brutal riffing. It´s fans of artists like Obituary and early Death, who should take notice here, although quality wise Gutted can´t compete with those two acts. They remind me slightly of another 90s US death metal act like Morta Skuld, who also made a couple of decent death metal albums around the same time, but who also suffered from the fact that their music just wasn´t unique sounding enough for them to stand out on an at the time overcrowded scene.

So upon conclusion "Bleed for Us to Live" is a decent quality debut album by Gutted. It doesn´t promise more than it delivers and it doesn´t deliver more than it promises. No nonsense death metal performed by competent musicians. Nothing more, nothing less. A 3 star (60%) rating is deserved.