With what was once just a mere side project, Montreal’s Stareblind made the decision to give it a full time go. They unleashed their debut full length album Something Left Unexplained earlier this year. But does the album prove they made the right decision, or leave “something” to be desired?

The album opens with “Shelter.” In it, you are greeted with a thick groove that is a total back-breaker. Right out of the gate, Stareblind’s sound is comparable to 40 Grit meets Mudvayne. They have that down-tuned musical growl that is encased in off-time changes and tempos. Vocalist Manuel Guilbault has a very solid heavy vocal that is mixed well with an almost Chad Grey (Mudvayne) singing voice. The track is cool because it opens the album with a huge amount of energy and aggression.

Adding an electro mix to the fold is “Shapes.” The industrial-esque opening gets you warmed up just in time for the bottom to completely fall out. Low-end guitars are accompanied with down-tuned bass and a super groovy drum line. Guilbault takes a much more melodic approach in this song, with the exception of an occasional scream or two in the background. This song has all the right elements to really make an impact on radio, thanks to its big melodic chorus and heavy breakdowns.

“Something Left Unexplained” and “Fetters” are two tracks that have SO much potential for success that it’s not even funny. The boys in Stareblind add just the right mix of heaviness and melody to make a creamy metal mixture of awesomeness. The verses in the title track are absolutely loaded with feeling, and then open up to a heavy head bobbing chorus that will stick in your cranium. In “Fetters”, you are immediately drawn in with a clean verse that quickly transitions into heavy breakdowns and a killer melodic chorus. The end of this song sounds like it came straight from a Mudvayne album with its slamming grooves and chaotic vocal runs. This song is SICK!

My favorite track on Something Left Unexplained has to be “The Guilt.” The cool off-time verses are refreshing to hear, all the while still making the song flow very smoothly. The choruses are dark, melodic, and drenched with emotion.

Unfortunately, a few tracks on the album seemed a bit like filler to me for some reason. “Embrace”, “The Way You Want Me” and “Souls In The Sandbox” really didn’t grab me at all. They all felt like rehashed riffs and thrown away ideas from previous songs. I’m not at all saying these are bad songs, but they just don’t seem to have that “it” factor in my opinion.

Stareblind have an absolute gem on their hands with Something Left Unexplained. While I did have a few tracks that I really couldn’t wrap my head around, by no means did it detract from the overall experience. Stareblind bring a fresh take on a familiar sound that doesn’t come off stale or just rehashed. The only thing “left unexplained” is why a label hasn’t already snatched these guys up.

4.0/5