A few years ago, when concerts were still happening regularly, I was happy to attend a couple of editions of Emergenza Festival – globally the biggest festival for upcoming bands. It’s there that I encountered a punk rock act named BLAME TOM. A few years later, it seems like the four-piece have forgiven Tom for his mistakes and have renamed themselves to BLAME ME, while taking somewhat of a new direction sound-wise too. The result is “The Invisible You,” the quartet’s debut effort, focusing on an alternative rock sound, with modern and poppy elements, which will be released on June 11, 2021, independently.
“The Invisible You” starts off with the energetic “Toxic”; the atmosphere is set from the start by the electronic elements that are a bit reminiscent of DAFT PUNK‘s original score of “Tron: Legacy,” but the slight sci-fi resemblance is let go when the poppy song takes over. Instead, we’re getting an energetic juggernaut of a pop metal song, including surprises like blast beats and a catchy chorus that sticks in your head. “To Ashes” continues the spark of energy. In another lifetime, singer Bini Silvennoinen would have probably been one of the Disney singers, considering her voice has a musical-like quality: powerful, dramatic, delightful, and poppy, especially clear in this second track, in which Silvennoinen shows the many tricks she has up her sleeve.
“What A Waste” is one of those songs that clearly shows the band’s roots. It has a bit of a punk rock vibe, especially evident in the intro and verses, yet combines pop elements (like the big chorus) so subtly that it fits well with the rest of the album. It’s the perfect bridge between BLAME ME‘s past and the present. The duo “Prayers & Dreams” and “Black Sheep” lean a little bit more towards the emotive side of this band, focusing more on the lyrics; it’s a tad slower, but no less catchy.
The next tracks form perhaps my favorite moment on this very diverse record: “Fire, Fuel and Scars” could have been a summer hit if they would have only released the song in the right season; after this, an atmospheric interlude plays, followed by the intriguing “Off the Rader.” This track stands out to me because it feels a little bit groovier than the rest of the material, as during the verses there is a certain minimality that gives this song an extra punch. I would even dare to say it’s slightly reminiscent of the alternative rock act THE RASMUS, even though I know that wasn’t the band’s intent.
“Don’t Save Me” feels like it’s loosely inspired on R.E.M.‘s “Losing My Religion,” as it shares a couple of the same notes in the keyboard melodies, but other than that pretty much stands on its own. Another stand-out track is the penultimate “Infected”; in fact, if there is any downside to this record for me personally, it’s the fact that this album doesn’t end with that song. It would have been the perfect closer because it’s big with beautiful choirs and a very emotional, dramatic arch, ending on a climax. However, after “Infected,” the four-piece share their version of t.A.T.u‘s “All the Things She Said,” which feels more like a bonus track than an album track.
Sometimes you need music that is a tad more uplifting and motivational in trying times like these. BLAME ME offers just that, even though the lyrics often revolve around emotional topics, the mellow and poppy sounds on this record have the power to put a smile on your face. The sublime production by Rami Nykänen, who is a master in producing records with a certain electronic touch to it, lifts this record up to the next level. If you’ll let this diverse collection of music in, you may just catch yourself humming one of these tracks the next day until a week or more later.
Tracklist
- Toxic
- To Ashes
- What A Waste
- Prayers & Dreams
- Black Sheep
- Fire, Fuel and Scars
- The Answer
- Off The Radar
- Don’t Save Me
- Reflections
- Infected
- All The Things She Said
Lineup
Bini Silvennoinen – vocals
Jesse Marttila – guitar
Juho Jokimies – bass
Vallu Kousa – drums
Label
Independent
