Blindside (band)

Blindside
Background information
Origin Stockholm, Sweden
Genres Alternative metal, post-hardcore, Christian rock, Christian metal
Years active 1994–Present
Labels DRT Entertainment, Tooth and Nail, Solid State Records, Elektra Records, INO Records
Associated acts Lindforest
Website www.blindsideonline.com
Members Christian Lindskog
Simon Grenehed
Tomas Näslund
Marcus Dahlström

Blindside is a rock band from Tumba, Sweden.[1] They formed in the Christian metal scene in Stockholm in 1994 as Underfree and released the EP Empty Box with Day-Glo Records before changing their name in 1996 and releasing the Blindside album in 1997. Another album, A Thought Crushed My Mind, came out in 2000. The group received greater attention in 2001 when they toured with P.O.D., resulting in a contract with Elektra. In 2002 they released the album Silence and in 2003 they toured in support of Hoobastank. A 2004 headlining tour suffered equipment theft but then Blindside released About a Burning Fire. Losing support from their label, the next year Blindside released The Great Depression independently, and they put out the DVD Ten Years Running Blind.[2]

Blindside independently released another EP in 2007 – The Black Rose – but then they ceased most band activity until 2011 when they released With Shivering Hearts We Wait.

History

A Thought Crushed My Mind

1997 Blindside debuted in Sweden with their self-titled debut, a collection of old and new songs that were based on singer Christian Lindskog's life at the time. Later in 1997 Blindside re-released the Empty Box EP on Day-Glo Records as a follow up to their self-titled debut. In 1997, Tooth & Nail Records got a hold of the EP and signed Blindside to their label. The US debut was released later that year by Tooth & Nail and featured songs both from the Swedish full-length debut and from the EP. In 2000, A Thought Crushed My Mind was released. A Thought Crushed My Mind was more harsh and hardcore than the band's debut, and vocalist/chief lyricist Christian Lindskog also voiced his pain of missing his wife, Elina, while touring. Due to lackluster sales of the two albums, it would be Blindside's final album with Solid State. Fellow group P.O.D. began actively endorsing Blindside and signed them to Elektra Records under the imprint 3 Points.

Silence

In 2002 Blindside released Silence. It generated hits such as "Sleepwalking", "Pitiful," and "Caught a Glimpse." They appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and performed their hit song "Pitiful". In 2003, they toured with Hoobastank to support the album. Also in 2003, the band appeared in the skateboarding film Grind, performing the song "Pitiful" at a skate competition. In 2003, the Warner Music Group was sold to private investors, leading Elektra to drop Blindside. The Blindside Union and P.O.D. Warriors, the two bands' street teams, stepped in to help in promotion. Blindside sold out five of the shows they headlined in 2004. However, the headlining tour was marred by several incidents. First, their tour bus crashed and was in disrepair, forcing the band to rent a van. Secondly, their last show in Bartlesville, OK had to be canceled. After dining in a restaurant in Dallas, TX, they found everything in their rental van stolen, including passports and money.

About a Burning Fire

In 2004, About a Burning Fire was released. It generated a minor hit in "All of Us." The album showed the band toying with their diversity, as they threw in techno elements in "Where The Sun Never Dies" and yodeling Swedish vocals in the ethereal "Shekina". "Shekina" is a Jewish and Christian name for the outer presence of God's glory, and this song title expresses Blindside's spiritual side in their music. "Shekina" was used on WWE DVD, Cheating Death, Stealing Life - The Eddie Guerrero Story. The track "Hooray, It's L.A." features the guitar and back up vocals of Billy Corgan, recorded during his recession from The Smashing Pumpkins. Following in 2005, Blindside re-released their two Solid State LPs with bonus tracks and new cover art. A DVD titled Ten Years Running Blind was released on June 21, 2005.

The Great Depression

The Great Depression, was released August 2, 2005. The Great Depression showcased Blindside experimenting with multiple new genres. Many jazzy elements were incorporated, such as "My Alibi" and "City Lights." Guest vocalists were incorporated, namely Ilkka from Benea Reach and Selfmindead, as well as J. Jamte. Ilkka sang alongside Christian Lindskog in "Come To Rest", while J. Jamte contributed to "You Must Be Bleeding Under Your Eyelids."

The Black Rose EP

Blindside released a new EP, The Black Rose EP, on June 27, 2007[3] and toured the United States in support of it in late 2007. This album included five new songs and three live songs, and is only available for purchase in Sweden, Blindside concerts, and online.

Hiatus

Blindside has been performing a new song called "Remember December" from their upcoming album.[4] Christian and Simon have also been performing in a side project named Lindforest (The English translation of Christian's Swedish lastname "Lindskog").[5] Blindside took some time off throughout 2008 but also has written new songs and is expected to release a new album.[6][7]

On May 1, 2009, it was announced that Blindside will be performing at a free showcase that will be held in Las Vegas at the Thomas and Mack Center on August 29, 2009, along with Flyleaf, Brian Welch and P.O.D., among others.[8]

On July 29, 2009, Blindside announced that they were going to be making a new album, to be produced by Howard Benson.[9]

On November 21, 2010 Blindside tweeted: "Hung out with our friends from Papa Roach this week in Stockholm and played them the new record. Cant wait for all you guys to hear it!" Papa Roach claimed the album would be released in March 2011.[10]

With Shivering Hearts We Wait

On February 7, 2011 Blindside posted an image on their Facebook and Twitter accounts with a possible Album Title and a date "028/002/011".[9]

A short video with a clip of a new song was added to their official website on February 28, 2011. The underground release date for With Shivering Hearts We Wait was May 6, 2011. The worldwide release date was June 7, 2011.[9]

On 03/11/11 9:05 CET Blindside released their new single "Monster on the Radio," on Swedish airwaves.

On 4/1/11 Blindside released a promotional website containing songs from the new album. The website contained songs off the new album. A new song was released each week leading to the album's release.

On 04/03/12 it was reported that Blindside had signed a new contract with BMG European Distribution Company.

Albums

Title Year Label Billboard 200 Producer Reviews
Blindside 1997 Day-Glo Records/Solid State 123 (US) Lasse Marten
Empty Box EP 1997 Day-Glo Records
A Thought Crushed My Mind 2000 Solid State Records 108 (US) Andre Jacobsson
"Limited Vinyl" 7inch 2001 Structure Records
Silence 2002 Elektra Records 83 (US) Howard Benson
About a Burning Fire 2004 39 (US)
Blindside (re-release) 2005 DRT Entertainment 122 (US)
A Thought Crushed My Mind (re-release)
The Great Depression 89 (US)
 Lasse Marten
The Black Rose EP 2007 WASA Recordings Blindside
With Shivering Hearts We Wait 2011 INO Records 70 (US) Mike Plotnikoff/Igor Khoroshev; Howard Benson (exec. producer)

Singles

Chart Positions
Year Title US Mainstream Rock US Modern Rock
2002 "Pitiful" 18 36
2003 "Sleepwalking" 31 6
2004 "All of Us" 11 1
2005 "Fell in Love with the Game" 49 19
2011 "Our Love Saves Us" 33 1

Videography

Title Album
"King of the Closet" A Thought Crushed My Mind
"Pitiful" Silence
"Sleepwalking"
"All of Us" About a Burning Fire
"About a Burning Fire"
"Fell in Love with the Game" The Great Depression
"When I Remember"
"The Way You Dance" The Black Rose EP
"Our Love Saves Us" With Shivering Hearts We Wait

Blindside In The Media

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ CMJ New Music Report. College Music Journal. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
  2. ↑ Cummings, Tony (3 August 2011). "Tony Cummings reports on the welcome comeback of post-hardcore heroes BLINDSIDE". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  3. ↑ Blindside. Rockfreaks.net. Retrieved on 2013-08-25.
  4. ↑ Archived August 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ Lindforest - Dead God. YouTube (2008-08-10). Retrieved on 2013-08-25.
  6. ↑ Myspace. Blogs.myspace.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-25.
  7. ↑ YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved on 2013-08-25.
  8. ↑ Exit (Home). Exitconcerts.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-25.
  9. 1 2 3 Blindside (Sweden) | Facebook. Blindsideonline.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-25.
  10. ↑ Blindside (blindsidesweden) on Twitter. Twitter.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-25.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, April 20, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.