Blindsided
Blindside are unlike other metal bands from their country such as In Flames or The Haunted; having toured with grunge metallers Trust Company in the past, they have more of an indie edge to them.
'Heartattack' has bit a of Nirvana meets Death From Above 1979 sound with the quiet/loud dynamic and a Smashing Pumpkins style electronic solo. 'Ask Me Now' has dreamy vocals and driving guitars. 'We're All Going To Die' has a driving pop punk hook. 'Yemkela' is a rip roaring tune and has a post hardcore edge with very emo-esque vocals.
Listening to the vocals on 'Put Back the Stars', Blindside sound almost like The Used with throwaway lyrics being sung and screamed in equal parts. The foot is hardly taken off the gas and doesn't dip into any soft numbers. This is both a good thing and a bad thing, as although you can understand the good musicianship of Blindside you wish they showed a bit more melody. Sometimes it is easier to imagine that the vocals are sung in ballad format; as heavy as the songs are on the Great Depression, a band that sound that articulate should go acoustic more.
The song writing on this record is spot on and the poetic lyrics carry the Swedes very far. Blindside are have the sound that would go down well with fans of emo bands like the Used and Jimmy Eat World or the more rocky sounds of the Foo Fighters or Open Hand.
The Great Depression is a touching record that does sound a bit samey in places but carries itself off pretty in the end. A strange but listenable record with a few surprises.