Review: Blindstone – Scars To Remember

Mighty Music (August 11th, 2023)

Reviewer: Dan Mann

I’ll nail my flag from the offset as it were by declaring that I’m a big fan of Blindstone and have been since the release of their debut album ‘Manifesto‘ back in 2003. And here we are in 2023 with album number ten!

So was I going to hear more of the same, or were the Danish trio going to suddenly ‘explore’ one of these nonsense genres that PR’s keep inventing.

Thankfully common sense (remember that?) has prevailed and Blindstone have stuck with what they do best. The only real difference is maybe more of a blues angle to their usual foot tapping blues rock. Plus there’s involvement of an outsider on this album, Swedish lyricist Peter Svensson.

It’s always been the case with me that I like all the tracks on a Blindstone album, but some just really impact me. Okay that’s with most albums I here you say, so let me elaborate. For a track on one of their albums to really impact above the others is quite the undertaking as Blindstone just don’t write/record duds! Yes I know I’m a fan so I’ll defend them so to speak, but I’m someone who’s not afraid of going against the tide if something is a little off!

On ‘Scars To Remember‘ my personal stand out tracks are a mixture, from the instrumental ‘Fields Of Bethel‘, which showcases why I think Martin J Anderson is one of the most underrated blues rock guitarists around (he plays a mean bit of melodic metal too with his other band Meridian), the full on blues boogie of ‘Waste Your Time‘ and the laid back ‘Drifting Away‘.

The playing of Messrs Anderson, Bunk (bass) and Jøhnk-Jensen (drums) is tighter than the lid on a jam jar, their signature sound once again displaying the perfect tightness of bass and drums and guitar that is allowed to breathe.

Blindstone, I take my hat off to you, this is now ten albums of sheer aural delight you’ve delivered. Hopefully now you’re on Mighty Music, you’ll get the wider recognition that you justly deserve.