Style: Hard rock; compare to P.O.D., Project 86, Underoath
Top tracks: "There Must Be Something in the Water," "Withering," "Our Love Saves Us"
After a four-year hiatus, Blindside returns with a new record label and energized approach to its already aggressive blend of alternative rock and hardcore. Teaming with producer Howard Benson (P.O.D., Flyleaf, My Chemical Romance) gives the Swedish foursome a newfound accessibility thanks to electronic and string accompaniment, but never at the expense of menacing screams, bone-crunching guitars, and aggressive percussion. Amidst that onslaught is a more mature outlook on life, including thoughtful musings on family and fatherhood.
Each had unique translation philosophies, diction preferences, and intended audiences in mind, frameworks that informed how they approached their all-consuming work.