Album Review: Blindfolded And Led To The Woods - Nightmare Withdrawals
Reviewed by Neil Bolton
The non-negotiable truth about calling your band Blindfolded and Led To the Woods is that you have to provide music as sinister as the band name suggests. And in only a few seconds into the album 'Nightmare Withdrawals' you realise the challenge has been accepted.
Within moments into the first track 'Inevitable Fate of the Universe' there is a display of the soundscape of this group. Muffled drums blast briefly start off then the real deal begins; and it is frantic and it is fast. Dark gruff vocals carry this tune to a faster breakdown and even deeper darker vocal tone. With no use for well-trodden verse and chorus song-structure, Blindfolded bounce and blast all over the place.
'Black Air', the second number, has no let up in intensity with a hint of early Mastodon glimmering in silhouette over the music. It is angry, and fearful, as the band’s moniker alludes to. '… And You Will Try to Speak' once again reveals how frantic and talented a drummer we have on show here; there is no intention of just creating a back beat for the guitars to shine, he is centre stage with the rest of the band.
Vocals range competently in different metal styles and then all of a sudden the atmosphere calms and abates for a while. Don't be fooled; the fear and darkness is never far away. Guitars that move up scales and down scales in rapid succession keeping the music from just sitting in the back ground. These tracks demand attention.The wonderfully named 'Atop the Wings of a Magpie' has a perky crowd pleasing momentum until it descends into the frantic sounds of horror and torment we are now accustomed to. The final number 'Mundus Creatus' once more begins calm but threatening, leading the listener along with them to their inevitable demise.This band have created a full package with their name, music and excellent album cover.
'Nightmare Withdrawls' is released on March 26th.
Within moments into the first track 'Inevitable Fate of the Universe' there is a display of the soundscape of this group. Muffled drums blast briefly start off then the real deal begins; and it is frantic and it is fast. Dark gruff vocals carry this tune to a faster breakdown and even deeper darker vocal tone. With no use for well-trodden verse and chorus song-structure, Blindfolded bounce and blast all over the place.
'Black Air', the second number, has no let up in intensity with a hint of early Mastodon glimmering in silhouette over the music. It is angry, and fearful, as the band’s moniker alludes to. '… And You Will Try to Speak' once again reveals how frantic and talented a drummer we have on show here; there is no intention of just creating a back beat for the guitars to shine, he is centre stage with the rest of the band.Vocals range competently in different metal styles and then all of a sudden the atmosphere calms and abates for a while. Don't be fooled; the fear and darkness is never far away. Guitars that move up scales and down scales in rapid succession keeping the music from just sitting in the back ground. These tracks demand attention.The wonderfully named 'Atop the Wings of a Magpie' has a perky crowd pleasing momentum until it descends into the frantic sounds of horror and torment we are now accustomed to. The final number 'Mundus Creatus' once more begins calm but threatening, leading the listener along with them to their inevitable demise.This band have created a full package with their name, music and excellent album cover.
'Nightmare Withdrawls' is released on March 26th.
