Send "The Blackout " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Rocksound |
 Singer Gavin Butler once told Rock Sound that he wanted The Blackout to be the biggest band in the world. Without sounding unnecessarily jaded, and not to knock the conviction and passion, it was far from the first time we had heard someone in his position say such a thing. At the time the sextet were still promoting second album ‘The Best In Town’, it was a record that had promise and moments but ultimately failed to deliver an experience that matched the live reputation the band had developed over their years together. His desire seemed admirable but, if we were to be frank, the goal looked largely unobtainable on the basis of the musical evidence provided. However, two years on from that moment ‘Hope’ arrives and becomes the band’s first legitimate step towards the kind of global appeal and dominance Butler discussed. The size, scale and ambition of the album is both immediate and impossible to ignore. While some might snipe that the dynamics are obvious, the melodies easy to follow and the lyrics positioned well in the hinterland between the personal and the universal, those elements are the record’s strengths. The 11 songs are built with intention and purpose, designed to bring out the best in a large crowd or field and as such, they deliver. In spades. ‘Hope’ is the soundtrack to the summer you’ve not yet had, and from here it sounds like it might be the best one yet....full text |
| Indulgesound |
| Described as “the preserve of the foolish and the brave, the light at the end of the tunnel and the ball and chain that leaves reality inescapable”, The Blackout already have a lot to live up to just from a one-line summary of their third full studio release ‘Hope’. ‘Ambition is Critical’ opens with an air of familiarity. Having been released as a free download and become part of their live set, you get the itch to jump as the chorus drops following the gradual opening build up. From the off The Blackout have captured the energy they ooze in a live capacity and refuse to stop as they leap headfirst into ‘Never By Your Side’ – an anarchic combination of aggression and catchiness. ‘Higher and Higher’ is easily transferable between studio versions and live scenarios. In fact, it’s hard to listen to it after seeing it live without imagining everyone in the room screaming ‘Woo!’ along with you in the chorus. Admittedly, your dad jumping out of his chair, throwing his arms in the air and shouting ‘Woo!’ might be a little too much to expect, no matter how much you wish for it. It’s not all bowl-you-over-make-you-want-to-jump songs throughout. The compulsory slower track slots are more than capably filled by ‘Hope (Scream it out Loud)’ and ‘The Last Goodbye’. With an air of calm twisted with their own sound, the band completely cut the screams and evoke the emotions in you that make you subconsciously sway with simple, clean vocals. ‘You’re Not Alone’ follows a similar suit. It’s less aggressive but definitely maintains that urge to bounce when you get into the chorus....full text |
| Sputnikmusic |
| While many a grizzled veteran will tell you that making and touring records is far from easy, there is little doubt that countless young bands starting out in the caper do so simply to have fun. At best, they tour the world and make some money. At worst, they party, sleep in and bum around until the next party. While it may be harsh, early releases from Welsh post-hardcore sextet The Blackout, suggested that they were one such outfit. However, something clearly clicked during the recording of their superb second LP 'The Best in Town'. The band had suddenly surpassed many of their peers and the world was potentially at their feet. For this reason, it is no surprise that subsequent LP 'Hope' is their most mature to date. The Blackout have grown up, and their ambition has moved from blind to critical. It is appropriate then that 'Hope' opens up with a track called 'Ambition Is Critical'. Of course, songwriters cannot grow without infusing their lyrics with suitable irony, so The Blackout immediately suggest "Call me what you want, ask me what you will. We are doing this for nothing but the thrill", before proclaiming "Where we are, what we've found, is we don't need to wear your crown". The tune itself is rather indicative of the album as a whole. Clearly influenced by fellow Welshmen - and touring mates - Lostprophets, The Blackout target a larger audience third time around, by toning down their aggressive post-hardcore tendencies, while continuing to infuse their trademark fun and energy. The result is a collection of melodic rock tracks that always threaten to, but only occasionally, take off. As a by-product of their pursuit of growth, diversity is not an issue on 'Hope', with The Blackout unafraid to test some waters. The aforementioned opener begins with distorted vocal effects, attention-seeking lead single 'Higher & Higher' features LA based rapper Hyro da Hero, and the soaring guitar lines of multiple cuts suggest that James & Matthew Davies have done their fair share of listening to U2 of late. All the ingredients are there, it is just the method in which they are combined that produces mixed results. Understandably, it is those songs which see The Blackout furthest from their comfort zone that fare worst, with the mid-tempo anthems being most inconsistent. Clearly targeting worldwide arenas and radio airplay, the catchy title track is lifted by call & response vocals and a guitar solo, but 'The Last Goodbye', 'You're Not Alone' and especially 'Keep On Moving' do nothing significantly memorable to differentiate The Blackout from the multitude of melodic rock bands in existence....full text |
The Blackout lyrics
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