Blindside
The Great Depression

Having gotten their start in Stockholm, Sweden under the name "Underfree" during the first two years of their career, Marcus Dahlström (drums), Simon Grenehed (guitar), Christian Lindskog (vocals) and Tomas Naslund (bass) eventually changed their name to Blindside upon the release of their second demo in 1996. Now we are celebrating 10 years with this amazing band! Now after re-releasing their self titled album and "A Thought Crushed My Mind" on DRT Entertainment, we now are being hit with one of their greatest albums to date! 

Musically
Everyone had so many questions after About a Burning Fire if Blindside was going more mellow and falling completely into a screamo genre. Well, this album squashes that with a hard hitting and incredible album.  The album is different from anything the band has ever released but done with the hard hitting and unique style fans have learned to love and appreciate. This album starts with an incredible intro that gives The Doors as a noticeable influence with extreme heavy bass lines and Christian talking to everyone explaining a concept of focus. "Heartattack" kicks in with Simon popping out an 80's Police meet the Cars type riff but don't let that make you press fast forward because the song explodes showing the hard edge is and will always be there. "Ask Me Now" begins as a bass heavy track and does slow the pace down a bit but with such a unique presence. The album has a heavy hook presence which gives the songs a touch of maturity and togetherness. "Yemkela" is an incredible track with great guitar riffs and power paced drumming with a heavy overall feel. Great flashes of distortion and breaks ending with a piano playing softly while adding another layer to this album. "Put Back the Stars" is another track that slows the pace down but not like you may think.  Simon still has a heavy guitar presence which still gives the songs a strong melodic edge not falling into what I would even close to classify as emo.  "Fell In Love With the Game", like "Heartattack", has a heavy 80's influenced guitar and bass pattern but drives on with a modern hard edge feel throughout the chorus.  Songs like this are very unique and may take some listeners a few listens to really grasp it but after that you will love it. "Citylights" slows back down the pace with another modern melodic number. "Come to Rest" picks up the pace with a very metal edge and almost a classic hard core punk feel. One of the coolest tracks on the album with an almost mystical background set. "This Time" may be one of the best Blindside songs I have ever heard and is definitely my favorite melodic number I have ever heard from them. The sincerity is absolutely amazing and can be heard through every touch of the cymbal and incredible bass and guitar riff that follows a consistent pattern throughout the song. 

Lyrically/Vocally
Lyrically, this as usual, is a very deep and emotional album. With a sense of realism and emotion, The Great Depression brings truth to a broken world with styles of poetic depression bringing light to the needy.  "We are sons and daughters of a revolution" is what we hear Christian telling the listener during the intro. Christian instantly tells us of the sadness many people feel as they are lost and a feeling of a great depression. The incredible thing Blindside does is never looses focus of their Christian faith. The band has been able to draw in both mainstream and Christian fans because their lyrics are real and draw you in with honesty. Songs like "This Time" bring the focus to a reality and a world full of depression as Christian tells the story of a man he and his wife met in Africa that was dieing of aids: 
"This time, you know this is real when you are scared to reveal
This time, could you leave us now even if you knew how
This time, look over your shoulder you have become older, 
This time, you are afraid to die. 

With nothing left, 
the pressure is off 
to become all you needed to survive, 
with the color black 
you would not be blessed by a church 
who decides it own color 
and puts a price on a paradise you know so well. 

But I know I see Jesus in your eyes 
so kiss the sky and I know what grace looks like."

In my opinion (like all reviews), Christian Lindskog has one of the most recognizable voices in music today.  I have heard some say they dont care for his voice, I think is voice has incredible range and a unique way of completely displaying his emotion and drawing the listen in to feel the meanings of each track. 

Overall, this is the most diverse I have ever heard the band and the maturity is overflowing with an incredible sense of emotion and compassion.  That may seem odd when talking about a harder style band like Blindside but the album has two unique styles bring something for their most hard core fans and also pleasing the fans of the melodic side of Blindside. This album is not our album of the month simply because we choose them as artist of the month.  This may be my favorite album that I have heard this year!