Best Buy
was selling
Blindside’s
new album entitled
About a Burning Fire,
and I must say that it is a gem. Unqualifiably. There isn’t really much bad
to say about this album. It’s that good. Blindside seems to revisit their
hardcore roots in this album, which is definitely darker and edgier than
“Silence.”
The first thing I
noticed about the songs was the dominance of rhythm in the structure of each
song. It’s almost as if the band wrote drum parts before it wrote parts for
other instruments. The rhythms of this album are what drive this album
forward. There is an abundance of creative drumming too. The beats groove
solidly and there are a few sections where the time isn’t straight 3/4 or
4/4.
The only song which
isn’t dominated by rhythm is the lounge-music dirge called “Roads.” Even
though it differs significantly from the rest of the album, this song is a
masterpiece. The violin track is soothing, yet melancholy, and combined with
Christian’s plaintive vocals the whole song presents a somewhat unsettling
melodic theme.
The one thing I
enjoy most about this album are Christian’s vocals. He manages to transition
from soaring heights (All of Us) to nigh-seductive crooning (Shekina), to
passionate screams remiscent of the Deftones (Eye of the Storm).
My most favorite
songs are “Eye of the Storm” and “The Sun Never Dies” (which seems to have
some double-meaning to it). “Eye of the Storm” is a written in 3/4 time,
which gives the song a “swaying” feel. The chorus is a plea to God for Him
to “Please come closer / Cause I don’t even touch You anymore / Please see
I’m walking into the eye of the storm / And I’ll still come out loving You
even more.”
It heartens me to
see devoted Christians write some decent music for a change.
~taken
from
theredfirehydrant.wearvirtue.com
*Note from Wise Men Promotions: on the song "Hooray for L.A." there is
content that if taken by some may be offensive. I found this as an
excellent explanation on their forum "Christian isn't swearing. He's
saying it in its actual meaning, which is, like, forsaken. He's saying the
night is damned and cold, because, in the song, he feels away from God.
Because, really, any night where you feel away from God is forsaken, or
"damned" as Christian puts it." Also this is a Swedish band and dialect is
different in other cultures.*
The
first track, "Eye of the Storm," opens perfectly.....starting for a few
seconds with the silently uttered vocals, and then a few seconds later
launching into an explosive scream of 'Goodbye' from lead singer
Christian, and plowing into the formula that brought Blindside so much
success with their last release Silence. Hard hitting music, added
to amazingly hardcore yet melodic vocals, and an extremely aware lyrical
sense of awareness, show that Blindside have taken their basic formula and
just amped it up louder for About A Burning Fire.
Instead of going through every single track, I'm going to go ahead and
just give you the best of the album.
"All Of Us" is just simply an amazing track. Apart from King of the
Closet and Sleepwalking (Both on their previous releases), this
is my favorite track from these guys. I love the vocals and how Christian
hits that sweet high note during the chorus.
"Hooray, It's L.A." is such a great song! I love that the guys hooked up
with Billy Corgan (ex-Smashing Pumpkins, Zwan) to write this song. Just a
great rocking song.
"Where the Sun Never Dies" is definitely what of the most rocking songs
they've done musically. The music matches the vocals perfectly. I know
that sounds cheesy, but this song just sounds so tight and perfect. It's
not fancy or over-the-top. Just rock the way it was intended. The creepy
little wailing effect halfway through the song adds a little mixture. And
I'm sorry, but how does Christian get his voice to do some of these
things?
OK, I was wrong. "About a Burning Fire" is hands down their most amazing
hardcore songs ever. A lot of people have asked me what the loudest most
hardcore song Blindside has ever done is. I've always said King of the
Closet cause that song rocked hardcore. But the title has changed
hands. This song is absolutely AMAZING!! Hands down, this and All Of Us
are my new all-time favorite Blindside tracks. All I can tell you is,
listen to the CD for any explanation of how awesome this song is. I can't
even put it into words. although....i kinda....just did. oh well.
~Taken
from
-wisemenpromotions.com
