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Generic emo.

It's difficult when listening to this mini album from The Blackout to see what all the fuss is about. They've been hyped so much and given reams and reams of press coverage, but it's a bit mystifying because they aren't doing anything original or different. Most of the tracks here have the usual (chugga) riffs, the usual screamy bits, lyrics that are so general that they appeal to the widest possible audience and vocals in a really strong, yet inconsistent American accent, even though the band hail from Merthyr Tydfil. It's all very well for a band to want to make it in America, but when so many British bands sing in American accents it gets a little tiring to hear yet another one.

The problem lies with the songs on "The Blackout The Blackout The Blackout" being reliant on the transient and throw away "now" culture of present day emo, where no-one seems to care if all the bands sound the same. The Blackout's audience probably cares little about the (better) past and the bands that made their names with this kind of music. All of these songs, along with the band, will be forgotten in a few years (or months) when the next big thing appears. The plus side to this argument is that they'll ride the crest of a re-ignited interest in the genre without worrying about burning out over a long time and probably make bags of cash along the way; a sort of "take-the-money-and-run-while-they're-young" kind of deal if you will. But in the end, the cons outweigh the pros, since there's nothing here to suggest a lasting impact, despite helping hands from famous friends.

Generally speaking, most of the songs on the record sound like Lost Prophets with more screaming, and in fact, Ian Watkins guests on 'It's High Tide Baby' the softest track, which could be a Prophets tune, but it's hard to tell where Watkins ends and Gavin Butler begins because they sound so similar. The opener, 'I'm a Riot? You're a Fucking Riot!' features a riff that is so shockingly similar to 'God Speed Us To Sea' from Every Time I Die's album "Hot Damn", it's almost as if they're attempting a cover. Naughty. You're better off checking out the (much copied) originals – ETID and Lost Prophets, the source of the Blackout's sound; both of which are more interesting to listen to.