You never know what to expect from the ever-changing Blamed, and Forever is no exception. They've pulled a switchback, slamming to a halt somewhere between the basic East Coast hardcore of last year's Against and the thrashfest of 1995's Frail. And it's their best yet, a perfect fusion of classic hardcore shout-singing, updated '80s thrash riffing (check the slowed-down old-skool Metallica moves in "Satori"), and thrash-punk moshpit breaks all over the place. "Reason Escapes" sounds like a long-lost Everdown song, with that hypnotic, crushing, bounce-groove style of hardcore riffing that just keeps going and going. This is no frills, veteran hard music.
What really gets them over the top this time around is something that was promised for the last album but never really materialized: the double-team semi-Sepultura tribal drumming of Jim Chaffin (regular for The Blamed; formerly of The Crucified) and guest Lance Garvin (Living Sacrifice). The resounding poundings reign supreme here. Also promising is final track "4/20/99," which borrows Hilde Bialach from The Crossing to provide cool Celtic chick vocals to go with the building storm of tribal beats and doom-doom distortion.
Only problem is, you can barely make out her voice in the mix, a production party-pooper which plagues the entire album. The vocals are just mixed too low, not separated enough for you to make out more than an occasional phrase or two when there's a lull in the musical whirlwind. And there's no lyric sheet. With guest lyricists like Andrew Mandell (Ballydowse) and Dave Canfield (Cornerstone Magazine), that's a big frown-maker and really takes away from the whole album. Forever is left as merely a riff and drum monster with no brain.
3.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #79Reviewed by David BixlerWell, Brian Grey and company have released another CD as The Blamed. This CD is a big change from their earlier Tooth & Nail albums, and after the disappointment of Again..., Forever comes as a very pleasant and refreshing surprise. Most people would recognize the Blamed as a hardcore, thrashy punk band. Though these elements are evident on this album, they don't dominate as much as they did on…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Josh MarihughThe Blamed has added a new member for this project, Matt Switaj. Like frontman Brian Grey and bassist Jeff Locke, Switaj is a member of the Jesus People USA community in Chicago, and he plays guitar and handles much of the lead vocals on this project. Someone new on lead vocals could have been a disaster, but Matt and Brian mix rather well. The Blamed's longtime drummer, Jim Chaffin (who also…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Joe RockstrohOne of Christian music's more prolific acts, The Blamed are back with their fourth album, and the familiar hardcore sound is back, with a few new metal riffs and some awesome drumming moving The Blamed closer to new-school hardcore. While the music is fast and furious, the lyrics add even more punch as they speak on subjects as diverse as the beating death of Matthew Shepard and as controversial…Similar sounding releases
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