I've often found it difficult to explain to new faces to the world of music, why The Blamed is such a respected band... why they are so highly upheld. Why Brian Gray is so loved.... I would really be able to see the confusion... with releases like: Again, Isolated Incident and Forever... what reason does a band have for respect? And really... The Blamed only has one truly good album. This is the album. This is the reason every metal-head, thrash lover has come back to The Blamed. This is the sole reason their name is so highly respected. All else is forgiven (pun intended) because of this one masterpiece. It truly is an odd occurrence... a mediocre punk band... suddenly releases something new... and it just tears the roof off the music industry. Frail was an album heard 'round the underground world. Even to this day... old school Slayer lovers hear the name "The Blamed" and get excited. The album's lyrics... the production, the anger, the frustration... the righteous indignance... it's Christians... taking a stand... against anything and everything. For one album... for the whole period of this disc, I saw more Christians stand proud. They had support in a lowly, mediocre punk band, suddenly turned thrash Christian icons.
The music is some of the best punk/thrash music ever recorded. The lyrics strike swiftly, hard, and pierce to the very root of the issues. Christ based, Christ affirming... filled with anger and disdain... this album has a real-world vividly truthful, beautifully simple, shamefully true picture to paint. Of the world it is so avidly against.
The simple question is this: Why is The Blamed so respected, loved and raised up? To put it in layman's terms: We're all just waiting for the time when we can join up against the world... in truth ...again. (grammar pun intended)
My question to the band?
Will this day ever come? Or is this album a one-time wonderment of absolute triumph?
9.5/10
Other coverage for this album
The Conqueror Worm Jun/Jul 1995Reviewed by argylleremember the blamed's first album 21? if you weren't too impressed that's okay. neither was i. it sounded like one song over & over to me. now they're back (not long of a wait i might add) with a new vocalist and a new harder punkier sound. these songs don't sound much alike and i must say this cd friggin' rocks! it starts out with the rager "feeding the ignorant." then we get the nice tune…Heaven's Metal #53Reviewed by Jeremy ChoiImagine this: A band releases an album in the middle of one year, only to have their sophomore release early in the next year, with a major line-up change and a different sound . . . and both albums are exceptional! Is this possible? If you've heard The Blamed's Frail, You would probably agree that it certainly is possible. One would only have to play Frail for five minutes to realize that there…The Lighthouse April 1995Reviewed by Todd BrownThe Blamed are not a new name in the Christian punk scene. Their debut release 21 earned the band quite a bit of attention last year, and many people have been waiting for the follow up. A sophomore album often attracts attention. Will it live up to the first? This question was running through my mind as I popped this one into my disc player. It was answered with the first track. 21 was a good…Similar sounding releases
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