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54 of 59 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Silence Is Golden, September 26, 2002
I have been counting down the minutes until this album release. Blindside has been my personal favorite band for three years now. Blindside's first album, self-titled, was and still is a mosh-worthy disc. Hardcore's rants and raves blended with punk's speed and experimental song structures. Their second album, A Thought Crushed My Mind, was and still is my all-time favorite album. Amazing vocals, lyrics, breakdowns and musicianship tucked under a tornado of harsh, emotional hardcore. The months leading up to Silence seemed to never end. When the first single, "Pitiful", was released I quickly downloaded it, promising that it would be the only peek I would gain before the release of the album. The song first hit me like a ton of bricks. Bricks made of feathery litmus paper, that is. I hated it! "Why is Christian singing?", I asked. It took me many listens to uncover the highs of the track. Marcus could drum this song with one hand, Simon is playing the same, catchy riff repeatedly, and Christian is, well, singing! I instantly solved the mystery of the change. The bands two previous albums were first written in Swedish, then translated into English and released in the Americas. This was obviously written in English right from the beginning. The quirky breakdowns and off-timed choruses of old were scarcely to be found. After overcoming the frustration of not receiving the brutal hardcore of the bands previous effort, I started to unravel the greatness that is "Pitiful". Christians' lyrics make the song. He displays his stance before his Holy and Just Creator. As he screams "And I'll remember every word you said!", one can easily understand why he is such an emotional vocalist. One cannot understand what this band has gone through in their experiences while in their homeland of Stockholm, Sweden. Sweden is known for exhibiting some of the best satanic Death and Black Metal known in this world. Blindside has gone through much persecution from a people of another side of the world that don't view religious freedom as we in America do. Knowing this makes Christian's words all the wiser unto his fans. The album, itself, starts out with the nu-metalish "Caught A Glimpse". It opens with sweetly sung vocals that crash into a pummeling chorus. The riffery on "Caught A Glimpse" and "Pitiful" are quite similar. Much different from anything heard from Simon before. "Sleepwalking" is bound to be a fan favorite, as well as a concert favorite. The first verse is a hard-hitting rant-fest of double bass work and cymbal crashing. Then, unexpectedly, a brilliantly written chorus rises out of the ashes of the destructive verse. This ends the hard-hitting nu-metal of the disc. "Cute Boring Love", "The Endings", "You Can Hide It" and later the brilliant "Painting" all contain one incredible hook after another. The most remarkable aspect of these hooks is that they are as original as they are well written. There is not one metal band, secular or Christian, that can compete with the song writing on these tracks, nor the entire album. "Thought Like Flames" fulfills some of my favorite Blindside cliché's. Off-timed vocals and unexpected, out of left field, riffs exactly like the ones on the first two albums, just in a lighter package. And then I died.... Or at least I might have well had. The blistering "Time Will Change Your Heart" blew out my 200-watt speakers instantly with Christians' best hardcore screams to date. Marcus' drumming in the chorus is similar to "Act" (as well as the whole track) of two years ago. Marcus' varied cymbal work quickly brought me back to the days of old. The track instantaneously became my favorite, and is the song I play for anyone that wants to give Blindside a listen. It perfectly describes everything that Blindside was, is, and ever will be. "Midnight" is an astounding praise song. "This world has nothing to offer a human soul reaching for the sky, so Father of Light, keep my human spirit alive. Will I try to hide away in the secret space of my heart, will I try in time. Will I try with my feet on the ground of shadows but my hand towards the Light" is what I find myself singing while walking down the pagan-filled halls of everyday life. A true masterpiece of worship unto our Everlasting Lord of Hosts. "Coming Back To Life" and "She Shut Your Eyes" end the body of the album with more marvelous hooks, fills, riffs, and licks. Silence closes with the slow acoustic ballad, "Silence". This song displays everything a Christian should feel for his Savior. "So I think I'll stay, caught up in a silent prayer". There's nothing else I can say about this song. It tells of how the believer feels love for his Savior, even when he doesn't understand, whatsoever, why he feels so. Sometimes we must be caught up in silent prayer because we know naught what we ought to pray. So the Spirit makes intercession for us, to the Father, with words that cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26). Silence may not be the Blindside many of us have grown to love over the last few years, but as long as the boys are bent on glorifying their Lord and Savior with their lives, their music will be just as gratifying.
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Swedish Rock and Roll to Ponder, August 20, 2002
Blindside's third LP, "Silence" combines raw emotion and power. As I listen to this album it's obvious that the listener is getting a glimpse into the heart of Blindside. The topics range from personal pride, to superficial love, to Ultimate Reality. What sets Blindside apart from many bands is their realness. There is substance to each song. Some cds have lyrics worth pondering, this is one of them. If you like to be challenged to grow in your thinking, Blindside is for you. The music of "Silence" is lighter than past Blindside efforts, but is still very good. Christian's raw scream can still be heard on almost all the songs. But it's his unique, Swedish singing voice that draws the listener in. The production on this cd is really good, clean, but not over polished. They don't sound like a band in a plastic box, it's real.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best album I've ever heard!, November 20, 2005
Blindside is my favorite band and this is their best album. Every song is amazing. This is one of the only cds I've ever heard that I like every single song. Here is what I think of the songs:
1. Caught a Glimpse 8/10. I know a lot of people like this song a lot but it is one of my worst songs on the cd. It's still a good song but I'm kind of strict. I like the chorus though.
2. Pitiful 10/10 AMAZING. The last time Christian repeats the chorus you almost feet like crying or screaming or something. The whole song is awesome.
3. Sleepwalking 9/10 Another amazing song. It has a slow chorus with fast verses. I love it in the bridge when Christian screams Goodbye. A little bit haunting.
4. Cute Boring Love 10/10 A lot of people think this song is a filler but it is one of the best songs on the cd. The chorus is just amazing. It has heavy guitars and some of the best vocals I've heard.
5. The Endings 9.5/10 Another great chorus. I love the way Christian's voice holds out for a long time.
6. You Can Hide It 9/10 Another good song by Blindside.
7. Thought Like Flames 8/10 Good, but one of the worst songs on the cd.
8. Time Will Change Your Heart 10/10 One of the best songs I've heard in my life! I showed it to one of my friends who listens to secular music and he loved it. The hardest song on the cd with amazing screams! One of my favorites on the cd.
9. Painting 9.5/10 It's hard to make a good follow up song to a song like Time WIll Change Your Heart, but these guys did it. This song is full of hope. If you like only like dark music you will hate this song. It's an amazing song though.
10. Midnight 9.5/10 Amazing. One of the best ballads I've heard. My brother doesn't like it but I do. It's not a completely slow song though.
11. Coming Back to Life 8/10 One of the worst songs on the cd.
12. She Shut Your Eyes 10/10 It gives you the feeling of a dark night kind of. It's another just amazing song.
13. Silence 6/10 This song only got this rating because it's a slow song. Compared to other slow songs it deserves a 9.5. Very peaceful sounding. A great way to end the cd.
Buy this album right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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