Imagine 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 are quite a few changes since last summer's release of 21. For one thing, the only members left of last year's edition of The Blamed are drummer Jim Chaffin (yes, he is the guy from the Crucified) and guitarist/vocalist Bryan Gray. New vocalist Jeremy Moffet (ex-drummer for Deliverance) and bassist Gary Ottosi replace the now-departed Eric Churchill, Aaron Bradford, and, formerly, Jake Landrau.
Though this album is musically quite diverse throughout its 11 very solid tracks, it would be safe to say that, generally the sound is more refined, and can be much thrashier and aggressive at times. There are some traces of 21's raw punk sound in a few songs; though, unlike 21, the studio chatter and the feedback are really nowhere to be found on Frail. The album opens with "Feeding the Ignorant," in which one can definitely hear the Crucified influence. Variations in style can be seen in tracks like "Prove your Excuse" and "Tom," which may be regarded as some of the lighter songs as they begin, but don't let that fool you - they can speed up pretty fast. Then there are the real crunchy tunes like "Guy in a Suit and The Pope" (yes, the old Crucified tune) and "Declaration Dead," in which the Blamed are just blistering. Musically and lyrically intense, these two tracks really kick! Bryan Gray shows that he can let his guitar rip when he wants to. Overall, the rhythm and intensity in all the songs is very, very impressive! Moffet's ability to change his vocal delivery (i.e. in the tune "Breeze," which is one of the more melodic tracks on Frail) at the drop of a hat, fits hand in glove with the updated sound (is the man gifted with a set of lungs, or what?!). Check out the track "Weakness".
As one listens to Frail, he/she may notice that the track "For You" sounds awfully familiar. That's because it was on last year's Helpless Amongst Friends compilation album. However, if you were to compare the two versions, you would notice some slight differences in sound and vocals.
The Blamed have always been impressive in terms of lyrical content and presentation. Frail is no exception, as the lyrics are blatantly up-front and personal. These guys aren't ashamed of Jesus Christ, and it shows in their challenging and thought-provoking words song after song. 'Nuff said. The album speaks for itself. Give it a spin.