I’ve got to be honest…before the release of Blessthefall’s new album, Witness, I thought they might be one of the most overrated bands of all time in the screamo/metalcore genre (whatever you would classify these guys as – I feel like it could go either way).

Before I get shanked, however, it is important to note that this opinion has pulled a very quick 180 degree turn after Witness was released.

It’s not that Blessthefall (BTF) was ever bad, it’s just that they weren’t as good as people were making them out to be. Their full-length debut, His Last Walk, was in no way bad but with the way people were talking about it you would think these guys were going to be music’s next saving grace. You may have heard one of the more popular tracks from that album, ‘Guys Like You Make Us Look Bad’ (hence the play on words in the post title).

Nothing kills a band faster than being overhyped and i was pretty sure BTF was right on track to fade into oblivion. That is until I heard Witness.

The first song I heard from Witness was the single they released, ‘God Wears Gucci.’ It took me a few listens but I definitely got hooked. I still wasn’t sure what exactly to think as far as the new album as a whole, though.

When I finally got my hands on a copy of Witness, it became obvious that this was a different band in more ways than just Beau Bokan taking over vocal duties (BTF’s old singer, Craig Mabbitt, left the band during a tour in 2007 for ‘personal reasons’ and the band decided to move on without him. Mabbitt has since become part of Escape the Fate’s lineup.).

Although it is the ‘softest’ of all the songs on the album, ‘Hey Baby, Here’s That Song You Wanted’ is a stand out track for me. It’s well structured and a track that would be a good starting point for people who aren’t sure about the whole screamo/metalcore genre yet.

Overall as a whole, Witness is just in general more instrumentally proficient than it’s predecessor. This is an album you can literally listen to straight through and not skip a track. That is extremely rare these days to say the least.

Also, if you get a chance to catch Blessthefall on the Atticus Tour this fall with Finch, you will not be disappointed. They play an incredibly tight, high energy set. When I saw them over the summer with August Burns Red and All Shall Perish, at the very end of the set Bokan climbed from the stage speakers to the balcony railing and screamed ‘Catch me!’ before backflipping into the crowd.

That was enough right there to make a fan out of one of the guys I went to the show with…and for good reason. These guys are passionate about what they do.

All in all, regardless of what you thought about His Last Walk, make sure to give Witness a listen. The two albums are worlds apart.

Click the album artwork to purchase Blessthefall’s songs or albums directly from iTunes (His Last Walk, Witness):

Or, if you prefer to shop at Amazon, check out their discography in CD and MP3 format: Blessthefall

Here are a few videos so you can get a feel for Blessthefall’s sound. ‘Hey Baby, Here’s That Song You Wanted’ is the exception from the rest of the tracks on Witness; most are a lot heavier than this song. ‘To Hell and Back’ is an actual video the band released back in 2008 which showcases a live performance.

Hey Baby, Here’s That Song You Wanted

To Hell and Back

All photos, music, and videos copyright of their respective owners. Used only for promotional purposes and to gain notoriety for the artists featured.

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