It must be hard for up and coming Swedish metal bands to not get instantly compared to some of the greats of the genre that have come out of that country over the past decade. Blinded Colony are sure to have this issue with Bedtime Prayers, a solid sophomore release from the band that really shows their talents and skills, yet sounds very familiar. A mix of raging and clean vocals, chugging guitar riffs, bubbling & atmospheric synths, and jackhammer rhythms, all make up the framework on Bedtime Prayers. Sound familiar? Well it should, as it's a similar formula used by bands such as In Flames, Soilwork, Dark Tranquility, Children of Bodom, Mercenary, and countless other Scandinavian metal bands. Let's give Blinded Colony their due though, as this is not mere copycat material, but actually an album filled with very strong songs, highlighted by catchy & memorable melodies, tight, crisp instrumentation, and the formidable vocal styles from Johan Schuster. The singer flip-flops from Speed (Soilwork) like screams to engaging clean passages, all housed with an aggressive framework that is built on crunchy guitar work and tight grooves, as well as layers of keyboards. Oddly enough, there is no mention anywhere on the CD of who handles the keyboard work, which is strange considering they play a pivotal role in the music. Guitarists Tobias Olsson and Johan Blomstrom lay down plenty of thunder, but it's all well crafted riffs, so don't expect any shredding solos here, as this album is not about that. At about 36 minutes, things move along pretty quickly on Bedtime Prayers, highlights being "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" (no relation to the Great White hit from the late 80's), the spacey angst of "21st Century Holocaust", the Slipknot-meets-Soilwork frenzy of "Need", and the intricate progressive metal track "Aaron's Sons", complete with stabbing synth lines, churning guitar riffs, and varied vocal styles.
It might not be the most original album you will hear this year, but Bedtime Prayers is a prime example of Swedish metal from a band who has a bright future ahead of them.
Track Listing
1) My Halo
2) Bedtime Prayers
3) Once Bitten, Twice Shy
4) Need
5) Revelation, Now!
6) 21st Century Holocaust
7) Aaron's Sons
8) In Here
9) Heart
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