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CHAINED SAINT “Blindside”
CHAINED SAINT “Blindside”
By Dr. Abner Mality
Every few years, a “teenage prodigy” band pops up on the scene. Most make a brief splash and then disappear back into the depths where most novelty bands wind up.
Florida’s CHAINED SAINT is the latest iteration of this phenomenon. With no member exceeding age 19, they are trying hard to be an old school Bay Area style thrash metal band...a particular sound which originated about 20 years before they were born. They do manage to have that chugga-chugga precision thrash sound down pat and they seem to be capable musicians despite their years. What this particular dish is missing is spice. If “Blindside” was food, it would be mashed potatoes with no gravy. The music is bare bones basic and almost never more than that. First track “Animosity” sets the stage with a combo of old SLAYER and old METALLICA riffing...but at the most rudimentary level. Lots of simple chug and at more than five minutes, this thing drags about 2 minutes too long.
That sets the pattern for the rest of the album. For a thrash band, they only hit the gas once in a while….some more vicious energy would help. “Neanderthal” is almost mind-numbing with its simplicity and again, it’s just too long. A listen to newer thrash bands like ENFORCED, HIGH COMMAND and WRAITH will quickly expose CHAINED SAINT as second tier.
But it is certainly not a horrible album by any token. “Stronger Than Stone” and “Corrupt to the Core” have more of what the band should be aiming for. The vocals are not bad, but some attention needs to be paid to catchy vocal lines. The bass and drum work is really good, especially for such a young band.
Keep in mind this is the first record for a very young band. If they can find that extra energy and also start getting more of their own sound, they will be on the way. Time is something they have plenty of.
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