This new eleven-song CD (with a hidden twelfth song that showcases their attempt at putting together a techno effort) blows their debut album out of the water. While the point of whether or not this CD is harder than the last is a moot point, it is clear that their style has met a slight change, as happens to many bands from album to album. Christian, the lead vocalist, doesn't sing as much as he used to and does more yelling, but it doesn't hurt the tracks as much as you might imagine. Rather, it makes them more powerful. Also, Simon, the guitarist, introduces some riffs that I've never heard anything like from a hardcore band, and so their originality brings them into the light anew.
The CD begins with "Vow of Silence," a song that begins sounding like many of the other Christian hardcore bands circulating in today's music scene. However, the seemingly familiar yelling and thrash riffs don't last for long as Christian's voice is dubbed singing over his own yelling. And despite the riffs of the song not being all too creative, the song remains a powerful example of Blindside's talent.
The second track immediately introduces their originality with "As You Walk." The opening guitar riff is extremely catchy, Christian starts off with his patent voice, and you can't help but nod your head--but that's been the wonder of Blindside all along, hasn't it?
One thing that has already proven evident by this point is that Simon is using a lot of string mutes, but it adds a lot of power songs, a lot of stop and go, trash and respite.
The third song was previously released on Tooth & Nails' sampler, "Songs From the Penalty Box, Vol. 3." The song, "King of the Closet," starts off with indecipherable yelling and the song continues on without a lot of creativity. All the while, however, it's catchy. The chorus reveals the meaning of the song (although it's hard to understand what he's saying for the rest of the song). It's a song comparing vampires to non-Christians, and how they are afraid the Light will set them on fire. With Christian singing behind his own yelling, the song is another trademark Blindside track.
The fourth song, "My Mother's Only Son," starts with another immediately catchy guitar line backing up Christian's singing, and the song almost sounds like something from a Stavesacre album, particularly their latest. The song remains original throughout, keeping the head bobbing for four tracks now.
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