Blindside About A Burning Fire CD

This is a Hyper CD, which contains regular audio tracks and also provides a link to the artist's website with the help of a web browser.
Blindside: Christian (vocals); Simon (guitar, background vocals); Tomas (piano, bass, background vocals); Marcus (drums, programming).
Additional personnel: Emma Hardelin (vocals); Billy Corgan (guitar); Neel Hammond (violin); Jen Kuhn (cello); Jon Rekdal (trumpet); Howard Benson (Vox organ); Petter Winnberg (double bass).
Recorded at Bay 7, Valley Village, California; Sparky Dark, Calabasas, California and Decibal Studios, Stockholm, Sweden.
This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.
Personnel: Emma Härdelin (vocals); Billy Corgan (guitar); Neel Hammond (violin); Jen Kuhn (cello); Howard Benson (organ); Petter Winnberg (double bass).
Audio Mixer: Chris Lord-Alge.
Recording information: Bay 7 Studios, Valley Village, CA; Decibel Stockholm Studios; Sparky Dark, Calabasas, CA.
Photographer: Kris McCaddon.
The Hoobastanking of Swedish Christian hardcore heroes Blindside began in earnest on 2002's Silence. Aided by helming wiz Howard Benson, the quartet successfully remodeled itself, compressing its aggressive, at times bellicose vocals and blur of blistering guitars into still meaty, but safely melodic chunks of meaning. Benson returns for About a Burning Fire, which finds Blindside completing their transformation into a completely believable, yet ultimately unremarkable alternative metal combo. Nothing among the opening round of yearning screams, plodding half-time riffs, and dynamic instrumental pauses really sticks until the single "All of Us," which is a convincing cross of creeping Radiohead atmosphere and Incubus anthem-making. "All of us are searching for an open arm/And it's a shame how I curl up in the dark" -- you get the idea. They're also likely to be the only post-grunge outfit with a guest shot from chilly Swedish folkies Garmarna, whose Emma Härdelin guides the atmospheric throb of "Shekina" with her otherworldly wail. It's an album standout, but that's sort of problematic since nothing else on Burning Fire sounds remotely like it. The record's remainder is populated by capable rockers that rely solidly on formula, alternating between brooding interludes and loud moments punctuated by bursts of guitar or kernels of insight from vocalist Christian Lindskog. Highlights include "After You're Gone," which capitalizes its titular subject, suggesting Lindskog is speaking to the Man Upstairs, while "Where the Sun Never Dies" switches things up with a dual vocal setup and relentless hammer-down chording. About a Burning Fire should certainly please Blindside's more recent fan base. It's a stronger album than Silence, and shows some creative derring-do even if it ultimately settles for the typical sounds of now. ~ Johnny Loftus
At first listen, Swedish rockers Blindside might sound similar to their American pals P.O.D. However, Blindside's fourth album, ABOUT A BURNING FIRE, is their most fully realized effort to date, bringing the band's unique take on heavy rock into distinct and full focus.
Refreshingly light on the kind of screaming vocals that have become a cliche over the years (Christian Lindskog's tuneful self-harmonizing is one of the group's major assets), Blindside's anthemic rock, with its direct, uplifting message of youthful redemption, is forcefully conveyed here. On tracks such as the churning "Eye of the Storm," which comes closest to traditional emo-core; the stuttering, filmic "Hooray, It's L.A." (featuring former Smashing Pumpkin Billy Corgan on guitar); and the atypically subtle and atmospheric "Shekina," the band shows its mettle. With its combination of creative aggression and sensitivity, ABOUT A BURNING FIRE firmly establishes Blindside as the pre-eminent European wing of the heavy-rock movement.

On P.O.D.'s Label, "3 Points".

Rolling Stone (3/4/04, pp.62-3) - 3 stars out of 5 - "On their fourth album, these metalheads sound restless....[The band's] newfound experimentation ends up being a strength."