The Blackout - Wolves
The last eighteen months or so has been a bit of a whirl wind for Welsh rockers The Blackout. We saw the release of their fourth studio album Start the Party and there were some health issues with singer Gavin Butler that caused some of their tour dates to be postponed. However, it seems all is back on the right track and with fans begging for more music, a five track EP titled Wolves has been created and released! This self-released EP was only made due to funds raised by fans through Kickstarter - reaching their target within several hours! It was the prospect of this release that got the band through the experiences of the last two years and was the perfect outlet to vent out all their anxieties, frustration and anger among a truck load of other emotions.
Just as you would expect from The Blackout, this is a tough cookie of an album. Opening with the title track, it instantly gets you bubbling with excitement inside. Within this and the tracks that follow there are powerful guitars and crashing drums, add to this stunning vocals from Sean and Gavin as well as some incredible backing chants and you have a work of art on your hands. Liars is rugged with added emphasis on aggression in part through the use of the chant - "we're sick, we're sick, sick of all this s**t!". On the surface Pieces is not as in your face as the previous two tracks. It is more settled and melodic - less punchy. This track, along with Hold On, you can visualise yourself singing at the top of your lungs and waving your arms about when catching them live. As Chainsrumbles to life and the EP comes to a close, vocals intertwine, guitars spring to life and drums crash to round up this five track EP perfectly.
If you have heard any of the previous material from The Blackout then you are going to LOVE this record. If you have never heard of these Welsh dudes, where have you been the last few years!!! If after listening to this new record that inner rocker inside you is on edge and needing a release, then you'll be pleased to hear The Blackout is about to embark on an eleven date UK headline tour starting in Norwich on November 2nd and concluding with London's Scala on November 13th. See you there!