Bleeding December releases self-titled EP
Bleeding December Turn Melancholy Into Memorable Pop Rock
by Jack Rush
A new force in OPM arrives with a debut that balances 90s alternative rock, acoustic warmth, and unmistakable melodic instinct.
There’s something immediately familiar about Bleeding December, the English-Filipino collaboration bringing together Filipino singer and guitarist Mel Felismino and Canadian bassist Dave Habza. Their self-titled five-track debut EP, released on October 2 via OMV Music, draws heavily from the melodic vocabulary of 90s alternative and pop rock, yet never feels trapped by nostalgia.
Instead, the band uses those familiar sounds as a foundation for songs about youth, love, relationships, nostalgia, and the uneasy passage of time.
Felismino’s vocals are particularly effective in the quieter moments. There’s an openness and vulnerability to his delivery that gives the songs their emotional center, while Habza’s bass and the band’s production provide enough weight to keep the material firmly rooted in rock. The result is a sound that can move from acoustic intimacy to full-bodied guitar-driven choruses without losing its sense of melody.
The EP’s three previously released singles—“We Were Young,” “I Know Now,” and “Simpleng Harana”—offer a good introduction to the band’s range.
“I Know Now” may be the immediate standout, built around a chorus that has the rare ability to stick after a single listen. It captures the band’s central strength: turning melancholy into something accessible and memorable without overplaying the emotion.
Melancholy. Melody. Warmth.
“We Were Young” shifts gears, bringing a rougher, more youthful energy to the record. Its punk-rock Americana influence provides a welcome contrast to the EP’s more reflective material, giving the project some much-needed movement.
Then there’s “Simpleng Harana,” which became my personal favorite. Its emotional appeal feels particularly natural, resisting the temptation to make its sentiment bigger than it needs to be. There’s an ease to the song that allows its feeling to linger.
The EP also benefits considerably from the presence of drummer Frank Ferrer, whose credits include Guns N’ Roses, The Psychedelic Furs, and Love Spit Love. His playing gives the arrangements a seasoned rock backbone, particularly when the songs expand into their larger choruses. The project was mixed at the legendary Grant Avenue Studio, with additional recording and production contributions from Andrew Lauzon.
The five tracks are:
We Were Young
Serina
I Know Now
Hourglass
Simpleng Harana
Bleeding December occasionally lean into familiar pop-rock architecture, and some of the bigger transitions can announce themselves a little too clearly. But that familiarity is also part of the band's appeal. Rather than attempting to reinvent alternative rock, they embrace its emotional and melodic traditions—and they do so with genuine affection for the form.
Most importantly, the EP already sounds like a band that understands what it wants to be.
The best moments come when acoustic-pop softness collides with the weight of a full rock chorus. That contrast gives Bleeding December its character: melancholy without self-indulgence, nostalgia without becoming retro, and rock music that still puts the song first.
For a debut EP, that’s a promising place to begin.
Bleeding December may be new, but they don't sound like they're still searching for their identity. They sound like they've found it.
Have a listen and connect with Bleeding December:
