The Blackout - Hope

The Blackout - Hope

We were sent a copy of The Blackout's newest album titled Hope. I think I would be right in saying it is one of the most anticipated albums of the year from one of the biggest bands currently in the UK rock scene.

Hope is the third album from the Welsh band, following on from the success of their previous album The Best In Town.

Some people may have already heard a taste of the album with the band releasing two singles titled Higher & Higher and Ambition is Critical. Both tracks giving a nice insight as to what to expect.

The album itself is eleven tracks long and is very easy to listen to. Many fans will probably be interested to know that front man Sean Smith has cut down on his trademark scream vocals and opted for a more clean cut vocal style on the album.

Without giving too much away Hope has just over took fellow Welsh rockers Funeral For A Friend's newest album Welcome Home Armageddon as the best album of the year...so far. As you can expect all of the tracks possess that special energy that The Blackout consistently deliver in their music. If I was to be picky and name a fault it would have to be the rapper in Higher & Higher I'm just not a fan of that but each to his own.

If you listen to all three albums back to back you really get a sense of how the band are evolving with every single release and if this is a sign of things to come then I can safely say that their next release will be out of this world!

HOPE is released on APRIL 4th 2011

FINAL RIFF RATING: R R R R R *Contender for album of the year*

Adam