Review - The Blackout - Hope

The third release from The Blackout, Hope, is another album that is being streamed by the band online, prior to its official release date of 4th April, giving fans a chance to savour the contents, ready in time for its release.

Funded entirely by the Pledge Music scheme, “Hope” is The Blackout at their absolute best, and is a worthy repayment of the fans belief and dedication, donating their own money to enable them to record this record. It will not disappoint the fanbase, and could well be considered the most complete release by The Blackout to date.

Although it starts a little indifferently (opening track Ambition Is Critical didn’t slay me as much as it could have), the record is an awesome collection of party rock anthems, and as a collective, they showcase the best of their abilities throughout. The dual vocals of Sean Smith and Gavin Butler work incredibly well, dancing over scintillating riffs, technical guitar virtuosity, and thundering drum beats.

Second track Never By Your Side is phenomenal, and is one of the best tracks the band have ever written. Vocal interchanges, mixtures of screaming and soaring melodies, a pummelling and majestic guitar riff and a killer breakdown really hit the spot. Lead single Higher and Higher sounds massively anthemic, with a sterling guest spot from upcoming rock/rapper Hyro Da Hero sounding just right, and which could put this on par with the You Me At Six ft Chiddy track, with a few more listens.

The highlights just keep coming as well, with Hope (Scream It Out Loud) sounding huge, with the emphatic use of gang vocals (one of the Pledge music benefits for fans) and This Is Our Time is much the same, sounding really intense as a result of the anthemic additions to the chorus.

What is also noticeable throughout is the multitude of brilliant riffs and guitarwork, particularly sounding great on tracks such as the aforesaid This Is Our Time, and The Last Goodbye, which has a guitar lead and a lick to die for. Bringing back the bad-ass riffage is The Devil Inside, before You’re Not Alone threatens to blow the roof off this collection of work with its catchy refrain.

Closing on The Storm (another brilliant track), this record is really impressive, and could help The Blackout not only permeate the daytime radio playlists of the likes of Radio 1, but could catapult them to the biggest stages they have ever played.

An awesome record.

9/10