Scandinavia is going to take over the world through their hardcore / emo. Another great release from Solid State and from Sweden. This release is a modern metal guitar album with singing hardcore and lots of cymbals. Lots of time changes, pauses, feedback, and speed. Fitting well in the Solid State family, Selfmindead is similar to the likes of Embodyment or Blindside. This is melody through complexity. The vocals are an easy win. Not the high pitch and not the growl. They fall between the two- very hardcore, while retaining a singing quality. Passionate and genuine with quick speaking / singing and the drawn-out yells. Technical music, which is the kind of hardcore that was born out of the passing of old school metal and hardcore. While a pleasant marriage, this formula may grow weary. But, until then we should all subscribe to the incredible metal-core which seems to be taking us into the next millennium. This self-titled work is a bit redundant, but every song is strong, making the CD an entire album. There is something to say about a record you can enjoy all the way through. Selfmindead's strength is not in the diversity of sound or in diversity of songs, but in its repetition of excellent musicianship. It brings the entire album together. Easy listening (in a way), with gorgeous, nice touches. This is the art of blending thousands of junctions and tones and changes. Breakdown: some hip hop a la Rage Against the Machine, and Blindside ("Three")."Nothing Inside" starts out sounding like a beefy Outer Circle song, but then changes into kind of a Within song. The last track,"Racket," is very cool, but seems to end prematurely. Lyrics throughout are extremely thought- provoking, rich, and intense. These songs first came out in 1997 on Soulscape Records, a Swedish label which has also worked with Royal. This is a solid album. Extremely well recorded, performed, and put together. Selfmindead wins another battle in this world domination. Onward Scandinavia! \
Other coverage for this album
The Lighthouse Unsorted 1999Reviewed by Jonathon SmithBe prepared for some pretty loud guitars, vocals, and drums when you listen to Selfmindead's self-titled debut on Solid State Records (a fairly new division of Tooth & Nail). This new band comes from Sweden, the country that gave us Blindside, Royal, and Extol. I have read a lot about a band having a "wall of sound," but Selfmindead truly does. Pounding bass and drums not only lie underneath the…The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by Josh SpencerTooth & Nail is just the record label of the decade. Not only did they almost single-handedly elevate edgy "Christian" music to the present, now they're importing previously hard-to-get albums by killer bands from Scandinavia like Blindside, Royal, Extol...and Selfmindead. Hopefully, they'll keep it up, and send their scouts out everywhere in search of great unknowns (in the US anyway). Not much…The Phantom Tollbooth 1997Reviewed by Josh SpencerI saw the guys on the cover of this, and thought, "Great, another generic, harsh, hardcore experience." Then I noticed they were from Sweden and thought "Hmmm," as the first strains of hardcore heaven rocked my stereo speakers. By the second song I was smiling uncontrollably and cranking it up even louder. Selfmindead grooves heavily and smoothly, making skilled use of flowing rap rhythms…Similar sounding releases
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