CD Review: Sweden's Blinded Colony's Bedtime Prayers

In the vast world of metal music and the different genres contained, I am really hoping one day to hear a band, which does not have to use screaming lyrics. There are a number of bands that come out and take the next step, but none of them do anything different to propel themselves above everyone else. Unfortunately, Blinded Colony falls into that category.

Musically, this band has it together. The back up vocals fit perfectly, excellent tight guitar work, precise percussion, and I like the keyboard integration. Pivotal Rockordings has a really good promising band here. They just need to clean up the vocals. The music is excellent, so why not compliment it with a deeper tone to project what they are trying to do?

Blinded Colony is a relatively new band from Sweden. Founded under the name of Stigmata early in 2000 and changing their name to Blinded Colony in 2002, they have put out a few demos and 2 full length albums. They have undergone a lineup change, bringing on Johan Schuster as the front man in 2004.

Starting off Bedtime Prayers is My Halo. This is a great song musically. The song takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. It's a very good song. "What? Who shut the light? My Halo used to shine all bright, but now...I've dug out myself in search of worms way deep inside. What now?"

Song two is the title track. I really enjoyed this song. Very good keyboard work in this song. It gives the song a chilling feel to it. This is a really good song, vocals included. Any song that seemingly starts out with the bridge has to be good! I dare say this is my favorite song on the album. "Look; we've got Pagans in south- feeding their gods, Jesus disciples in our TV- needing their god. We breed the beliefs."

The third track, Once Bitten Twice Shy, is another really good song on the Bedtime Prayers CD. This song is another one of my favorites. "Await the better days, don't pull your weight; I'll laugh when you admit defeat. I feel the taste, we're laid to waste; Will you stand the heat?"

Song four, Need, is an interesting concept. It's a good song on being dependent. "They're making us needing them in a physical way; they're making us needing them in a mental way."

Track five, Revelation Now!, has great guitar work and keyboards. The backing vocals are great, but lead is not that impressive. "Revelation, Now! Come out wherever you are."

21st Century Holocaust, the sixth song, is one I can do without. It isn't one of the better songs on the CD. Even musically, let alone the lyrics.

That takes us to Aaron's Sons, the seventh song. This song has a very heavy religious overtone. They even quote a passage from Leviticus...well, it is screamed anyway. It's a good song all around. "Trust in Him and you may kill; he'll kiss you as blood is spilled. Burnt Leviticus with his sinful deeds; he must be no more."

Track 8, In Here, is pretty self explanatory. Musically it is awesome…lyrics need help again. "Late racists drew these lines; locked up by your name in modern time. I eat, I sleep, I guard what's mine; What they call freedom I cannot find."

Track 9, Heart, is great ending song, leaving the CD listener waiting and wanting for more. "Dear old friend where have you gone? Now I can't feel at all what's right or wrong. Don't you leave me here alone!"

Overall, Bedtime Prayers is a good sophomore full length effort. I haven't had the opportunity to hear any of Blinded Colony's earlier works, but given the chance I would. Aside from the screaming vocals they have a very good sound. They just don't offer anything I haven't heard before.