The Blamed offer another dose of heavy artful (post-hardcore) punk rock on Give Us Barabbas; brilliantly exhibiting the underlying danger and attitude of punk alongside the complex changes and rhythmic Tourette's of math rock. This is a progression in their sound, a bit more polished, but a literal crazed adventure awaits listeners.
"The Lonely Zagreb" and "Cyclical" deliver tried and true for the Blamed faithful. "Fictionary" is classic mid-80s hardcore punk tinged with dissonant guitar tones. Others, such as "So Depraved," "Best in Show," and "1200 Stares" are so chaotic, they teeter on the ridiculous, yet it is so calculated, so organized, so paradoxical, that you have to admire the band for being able to pull it off (seemingly) effortlessly. "1200 Stares," in particular, is marked by quite the chaotic breakdown: a sax is blaring incoherently, guitar strings are being stretched to the maximum, and someone is screaming like a girl (I certainly hope that indeed it is a girl producing those screams; if not, someone's manhood is getting ripped from their scrotum). "Prayer of the Dead" is dark post-punk with darker Sabbath riffs played through wire that empties into a mesmerizing and haunting cello. The band practically goes pop on "Positive," if not for the bizarre changes and odd guitar wankery.
"You Not Me," provides classic sing-a-long action for the disaffected youth of today. This song captures the intensity, the energy, the insanity that marked the brilliant Germany EP. The vocal hook ascends in a raised fist: "LEFT ALONE! LEFT ALONE! THANKS! FOR! PLAYING! HOST! LEFT ALONE! LEFT ALONE! THANKS! FOR! PLAYING! YOU! I'M! GLAD! I spent three grand to HANG! OUT! in your apartment, while you ran around RUNNING AWAY! FROM YOURSELLLLLFF!" Each exclamation point punctuated by pure pain-drenched emotion.
The only thing wrong with this record is it may have lost something in its tightness, its thickness, its polished edges (no dusty mirrors or splintered wood that made the Germany EP brilliant). Some tracks, such as "Cyclical," are equally amazing and insipid (the Tool-like guitar riffing is too normal for the Blamed). Minor threats.
You think Fugazi has gone soft in their old age, check out the yelping of Matt Switaj on Give Us Barabbas. You feel a void left by the departure of Refused and their new noise? Look no further than the complex rhythms and mind spinning changes that litter this dark alley called the Blamed.
Editors' ratings - Doug 3/5, Jason 4/5
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis June 2002Reviewed by Matt ModrichThe Blamed has changed a lot since their early Tooth and Nail releases "21" and "Frail." With Brian Gray as the only original member, The Blamed is now back on Tooth and Nail with their new sound and their new record "Give Us Barabbas." It's hard to describe "Give Us Barabbas" because it combines elements of hardcore, punk and emocore. There are also subtle allusions to Blenderhead's first album…Art for the Ears 2002Reviewed by Marco PovervestWell past Easter The Blamed comes up with Give Us Barabbas. More than a year ago I saw them live and the only impression that I got was that it was a lot of senseless noise with layers of screams. This recording gives me a different idea of the same band and this is also different from what I know from their punk rock days when they were one of the first bands on Tooth & Nail Records. Give Us…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by John WilsonThe Blamed's latest, Give Us Barabbas, is an exercise in controlled chaos. The general recipe includes darkly obscure, almost free-verse lyrics that Matt Switaj yells over a blend of grinding guitars and reckless drum pounding. There is a method to the Blamed's madness, but it's indistinguishable underneath Switaj's grating vocal attack. He's not singing, not screaming, but barking out rough…The Phantom Tollbooth 2002Reviewed by Trilisa M. PerrineGive Us Barabbas, the latest album from The Blamed, takes its title from one of the darkest moments in human history -- the moment when men and women screamed for the release of a condemned murderer over that of Christ. As one might expect, this album is dark, the guitars are screeching, and the vocals are near a scream. At first listen, the sound was intriguing, but after hearing a number of…Similar sounding releases
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