The Blamed has changed a lot since their early Tooth and Nail releases "21" and "Frail." With Brian Gray as the only original member, The Blamed is now back on Tooth and Nail with their new sound and their new record "Give Us Barabbas."
It's hard to describe "Give Us Barabbas" because it combines elements of hardcore, punk and emocore. There are also subtle allusions to Blenderhead's first album and Roadside Monument's later recordings. However, the most obvious comparison is Fugazi.
The album starts out with "The Lonely Zagreb," which rocks out like the original Blamed. Then comes track three "1200 Stares," which mellows into a little jazz number and then suddenly breaks into what can only be described as an incredibly well-executed chaotic jam. Another memorable piece is the guitar hook on the chorus of the next track "You Not Me." Then, skip down to song six "Open Mouth" to hear a sweet groove, along with some music that is fitting for an old school Nintendo game called "Tiger Heli." Also worth noting is track ten "Prayer for the Dead," which starts like a hardcore song and ends with a beautiful cello and violin accompaniment. Following the classical music is "Positive," the most complete song on the disc, as it showcases the emo side of The Blamed with pretty vocals and a melodic piano part.
Looking back, it's still hard to believe that The Blamed's brand of anti-pop with lots of odd chords that clash would work, but somehow it is an instrumental wonder, too bad they sing. It is true that the vocals on "Give Us Barabbas" suit the music, but vocally The Blamed clearly has room for growth.
B
Other coverage for this album
Art for the Ears 2002Reviewed by Marco PovervestWell past Easter The Blamed comes up with Give Us Barabbas. More than a year ago I saw them live and the only impression that I got was that it was a lot of senseless noise with layers of screams. This recording gives me a different idea of the same band and this is also different from what I know from their punk rock days when they were one of the first bands on Tooth & Nail Records. Give Us…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by John WilsonThe Blamed's latest, Give Us Barabbas, is an exercise in controlled chaos. The general recipe includes darkly obscure, almost free-verse lyrics that Matt Switaj yells over a blend of grinding guitars and reckless drum pounding. There is a method to the Blamed's madness, but it's indistinguishable underneath Switaj's grating vocal attack. He's not singing, not screaming, but barking out rough…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Trilisa M. PerrineGive Us Barabbas, the latest album from The Blamed, takes its title from one of the darkest moments in human history -- the moment when men and women screamed for the release of a condemned murderer over that of Christ. As one might expect, this album is dark, the guitars are screeching, and the vocals are near a scream. At first listen, the sound was intriguing, but after hearing a number of…Similar sounding releases
2004The National AcrobatThe Complete Recordings
2001Canterbury EffectAn Exercise in Humility
1998Roadside MonumentI Am The Day Of Current Taste
2004Local HWhatever Happened to P.J. Soles?
2003Ambitious Career Woman...To Avoid a Lawsuit
2001The Icarus LineMono
