 Blindside About A Burning Fire
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Possibly the best band in the whole post-grunge/nu-metal pack. Heavier than thou, with melody to spare and a lyrical perspective that successfully incorporates the pain of love, spiritual futility and ultimate redemption. (Collaborating with Billy Corgan doesn't hurt, either.) The first 10 seconds of the LP are truly great.
Apparently being the best Christian metal band in Sweden wasn't good enough for Blindside. On their fourth album, these metalheads sound restless -- their basic guitar rock is now infused with violins, electronic beats, Billy Corgan cameos and, in the case of "Shekina," female yodeling. All this newfound experimentation ends up being a strength. "Where the Sun Never Read More Dies" works great as a grungy anthem, but the song's disco breakdown gives it a real groove. And before the pretty, acoustic ballad "Roads" can get too maudlin, the horns kick in and it becomes a jazzy lounge number. Focused? No. But at the very least, Blindside are consistently entertaining.
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