Comments
long live the blamed.
long live the Wiitala brothers
Blamed, The - Give Us Barrabas
The Blamed offer another dose of heavy artful (post-hardcore) punk rock on Give Us Barrabas; brilliantly exhibiting the underlying danger and attitude of punk alongside the complex changes and rhythmic Tourette's of math rock. This is a progression in their sound, a bit more polished, but a literal crazed adventure awaits listeners.
“The Lonely Zagreb” and “Cyclical” deliver tried and true for the Blamed faithful. “Fictionary” is classic mid-80s hardcore punk tinged with dissonant guitar tones. Others, such as “So Depraved,” “Best in Show,” and “1200 Stares” are so chaotic, they teeter on the ridiculous, yet it is so calculated, so organized, so paradoxical, that you have to admire the band for being able to pull it off (seemingly) effortlessly. “1200 Stares,” in particular, is marked by quite the chaotic breakdown: a sax is blaring incoherently, guitar strings are being stretched to the maximum, and someone is screaming like a girl (I certainly hope that indeed it is a girl producing those screams; if not, someone's manhood is getting ripped from their scrotum). “Prayer of the Dead” is dark post-punk with darker Sabbath riffs played through wire that empties into a mesmerizing and haunting cello. The band practically goes pop on “Positive,” if not for the bizarre changes and odd guitar wankery.
“You Not Me,” provides classic sing-a-long action for the disaffected youth of today. This song captures the intensity, the energy, the insanity that marked the brilliant Germany EP. The vocal hook ascends in a raised fist: “LEFT ALONE! LEFT ALONE! THANKS! FOR! PLAYING! HOST! LEFT ALONE! LEFT ALONE! THANKS! FOR! PLAYING! YOU! I'M! GLAD! I spent three grand to HANG! OUT! in your apartment, while you ran around RUNNING AWAY! FROM YOURSELLLLLFF!" Each exclamation point punctuated by pure pain-drenched emotion.
The only thing wrong with this record is it may have lost something in its tightness, its thickness, its polished edges (no dusty mirrors or splintered wood that made the Germany EP brilliant). Some tracks, such as “Cyclical,” are equally amazing and insipid (the Tool-like guitar riffing is too normal for the Blamed). Minor threats.
You think Fugazi has gone soft in their old age, check out the yelping of Matt Switaj on Give Us Barrabas. You feel a void left by the departure of Refused and their new noise? Look no further than the complex rhythms and mind spinning changes that litter this dark alley called the Blamed. [Tooth & Nail / Chris M. Short]
This album review was originally printed in ISSUE 95 of HM Magazine. Order the Print Version of HM for tons more reviews of new albums.
©2002 HM Magazine - All Rights Reserved.
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