| Review: The Blackout - 'The Best In Town' Show @ O2 Academy Islington 18/01/2014 |

A bustling evening is on the horizon here tonight at the O2 Islington Academy as welsh-rock group The Blackout are preparing to take to the stage for the second night in a row. This set differs to the lads’ setlist last night, as tonight is a celebration of the seminal 2009 album The Best In Town.  The band is set to play the album in its entirety along with some other B-sides and fan favourites. 

The doors open and the venue is swamped with fans desperately trying to get to the front of the stage and clasp onto the barrier for dear life. Then as the lights dim, the first band take to the stage. With a name like Rat Attack, you might expect light rock riffs and sweet melodies in their songs. However these sleeping giants attack the stage with a ferocious stage presence that thoroughly gets the crowd motivated. Undertones of punk rock mixed with a glitz and glam come together as the band open their set to A Bird In Hand.  Judging by the looks on vocalist Mike Hodges’ face, it’s going to be a fun night. Clad in a glittery top, Hodges is a true icon of the party-punk sound they’re looking for.  As the set comes to a close, guitarist Charlie Wesson and bassist Dan Wilson get the crowd moving with their latest single Saturday Night Feeling which Hodges describes as “Catchy as FUCK!” Even if you’re not usually a fan of slick guitar riffs, you find it hard to not groove along to the band’s charm. A great opening act that set the bar high for tonight. (7/10).

Not long after, LostAlone step on stage and take formation in the dimmed light and they explode from the silence into their latest single The Bells! The Bells!  Vocalist/Guitarist Steven Battelle triumphantly takes place in the spotlight as the band takes control of the crowd. With riffs and guitar solos galore, the crowd is already left shaking by the end of the second song Do You Get What You Pray For?

 Following a mishap in the set order due to Battelle setting his setlist out completely in pictures, LostAlone take a moment away from the music to celebrate Lindt chocolate – an odd but funny topic of choice nonetheless. The band appears to be splitting the crowd in opinions, but the band is quick to combat opposition well by claiming “You’re going to get absolutely torn to shreds, especially on this next one!” It’s here that drummer Mark Gibson and bassist Alan Williamson show off their talents on track Vesuvius, which packs a face-melting intro, and chorus that you can’t help but chant along to.  The Derby guys close their set on their hit single Love Will Eat You Alive, the band plays with huge grins on their faces. They leave the stage also leaving fans with news of a tour in April. (8/10)

Anticipation begins to rise in the venue as the banner for The Blackout is raised and the fans begin to shout out for the music to begin. Then suddenly all members run out on stage, before sending the crowd into overdrive as the band open up to ShutTheFuckUppercut.  Based from the reaction purely to the first song, we can tell that vocalist Sean Smith has clearly been anticipating this show for a long time since vocalist Gavin Butler fell ill on their last tour. With their next track Save Ourselves (The Warning) the audience comes alive singing in harmony to the chants in the choruses that brings a huge smile to Smith and Butler’s face. Being only four songs into their set, it is evident to see that The Blackout are one of the few bands nowadays that seem able to perform just as well, if not better live then on the record.  Smith’s screamed vocals are spot on and Butler’s clean vocals create a sense of euphoria amongst the crowd.

Rattling off the iconic tracks from the album including Children of the Night and I Love Myself and I Wanna Live, Smith recalls memories from playing this venue in the past and the history it holds for the band – “The last time we played this song we supported a small female-fronted band, they can’t be that big, who are they? Paramore.”

Finishing The Best in Town on We’re Going to Hell, So Bring the Sunblock the band rushes off stage and coming back on for an encore of songs that will get the crowd off of their feet. Smith then decides to take the set back to The Blackout’s first album for singles I’m a Riot? You’re a Fucking Riot! and You and Your Friend vs. Me and The Revolution  explaining: “This comes off our first album when we used to be a post-hardcore band.”

Just by looking at the amount of action taking place in mosh pits here tonight we can tell that the audience is having a great time, and it only seems fitting for the follow up track to be Start The Party with Smith asking for “Circle pits! Diamond Pits! Octagon Pits! I don’t know what those last two are but I want them!” The crowd is ignited into a frenzy of dancing and jumping all over again and the band is having just as much fun as the fans tonight. Before the show ends The Blackout still have a few more aces up their sleeves as they delve into We Are the Dynamite with Prepare For a Wound as well as going into their 2011 album Hope for The Storm which is what ignites in the crowd as the guitar kicks in.  Their penultimate song Radio is key in the audience taking the audience’s antics to new levels in successfully getting members of the crowd to do handstands throughout the song.

To finish the set, they end on the single Higher & Higher from Hope which is a subtly fitting song for the future of The Blackout. After the performance here tonight, it is clear that the band’s career can only continue for the better – top show lads. (9/10)

| Review: Black Veil Brides @ Rock City - 20/12/2013 [Live] |

Ben Mills Gets The Crowd Moving With 'Seatbelts'

Hollywood hard-rockers return to Nottingham for an evening full of flair, hairspray and loud music after two years. It's the last date on the Black Veil Brides'  'The Church of the Wild One Part II' tour but the energy is still running high among fans and the bands themselves. This show like nearly all of the shows on the tour is sold out and this is evident by how tightly packed the venue feels. After the doors are opened, shrieks of the young teenage fans are heard as they fight to make it to the stage (almost reminiscent of an army storming the battlefield).

As the venue begins to fill, the first band to grace the stage take position, clad in black from head to toe with instrument in hands. The Smoking Hearts, a five piece punk-rock group explode into their set with 'Destroy!' a song which packs a top notch guitar riff, a killer drum beat and strong vocals from vocalist Ben Mills. Only two minutes into their set and The Smoking Hearts have already won the hearts of the crowd and gets them screaming along the track's chant 'THIS IS TIME TO DESTROY!'. By the end of the first song guitarists 'Nobba' and Calvin have smiles as big as the Cheshire Cat's, but it's hard to blame them really. The rest of the set goes down a treat with the crowd participation being a key part of their set, just going to show that even if the fans don't know your tracks you can still motivate them, good going guys. (70%)

Aaron Buchanan Poses as the Robot From '86

The next band run on stage with bounding enthusiasm and the crowd instantly perks up as Heaven's Basement begin their opening song 'Fire, Fire' which sees the crowd begin to jump and move in synch to Aaron Buchanan's chants. Judging by the response the band is met to after their first song, we can see that Heaven's Basement are the more well known support band here tonight. Being a four piece band you may expect there to be a lack of power in the music, but Heaven's Basement are pulling out all the stops tonight and the delivery is superb. The sound could be deemed reminiscent of recent Rise Against material and guitarist Sid Glover's solos are something that have to be seen to be believed. By the end of the set, these lads end their set triumphantly on the band's biggest singles 'I Am Electric' and 'Nothing Left To Lose'. Make sure to look out for them
in 2014. (85%)

Jinxx & Jake Pitts Gear Up For 'In The End'

Finally at long wait, the lights dim for one last time tonight and as the intro to 'Shadows Die' is played on the speakers over the chant of 'BLACK VEIL BRIDES', the crowd sways in harmony to one another. Then, one by one the members step out on stage greeted by deafening screams of adoration. Lead singer Andy Biersack takes centre stage with a huge smile on his face before screaming on the breakdown of 'Shadows Die'. The venue is instantly ignited with the sound of 2450 fans singing along to the song, with fans even treated to the rare event of guitarist Jinxx playing his violin on stage.

The set from Black Veil Brides is aimed mainly to promote their 2013 album 'Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones', however the band does aim to keep loyal fans interested throwing in hit songs from their first two albums 'We Stitch These Wounds' and 'Set The World On Fire'. As members of the audience scream out to the members, the band drop into their earlier material which is received positively by all attending as the guitar riff from 'Knives and Pens' and 'Perfect Weapon' pulses through the crowd. It is here that guitarist Jake Pitts gets to show off his guitar skills and take the set to a musical climax.

Andy Biersack Commands the Crowd With Ease

Following 'Perfect Weapon' drummer Christian Coma aka CC gets his time in the spotlight as he performs a stunning drum solo. However as much as it is a spectacle to watch, there is a feeling that the band has played the same solo time and time ago and it soon becomes repetitive to listen to.

Despite this however, Black Veil Brides are able to put on a great show for fans both new, and old. Returning for an encore the band prepares for two last songs, and Andy finally dons the santa hat thrown on stage by a fan.

They finish their set with hit singles 'Fallen Angels' and 'In The End' which seem fitting given that is the show that closes 2013 for the band. As bassist Ashley Purdy and Andy Biersack thank the crowd and wave goodbye the lights fade away. (90%)
With news that they will be returning to the recording studio in the new year it seems that Black Veil Brides have set themselves up for yet another busy year - bring on 2014!

| Review: 'The Best In Town' - The Blackout: Album Revisited [Album] |

In ten days, Welsh rock group The Blackout are set to triumphantly return to the O2 Academy in Islington to perform for two nights of rock and roll with an undertone of party fever, a show that only these lads could deliver. This follows their cancelled tour dates after singer Gavin Butler suffered health issues on the last stretch of their previous tour. However the show set for January 18 has gathered large amounts of interest thanks to the show being a special one; the band is set to play their seminal album 'The Best In Town' in its entirety along with some special songs as well. If you were lucky enough to bag yourself a ticket, it's time to revisit the album, put on your skinny jeans and get that 'emo' fringe firmly back in place.

Being the first album recorded on the Epitaph record label after moving from the Fierce Panda label, the band seem to have gained a true sense of respect amongst the alternative and post-hardcore scene and the album definitely stands to show that the band have upped their game to present this to the fans. The album explodes with the punchy riff of 'ShutTheFuckUppercut' and Sean Smith's scream vocals tear straight through the song, immediately setting the tone for what is to be a hell of a ride. Gavin Butler's vocals harmonise perfectly alongside the fierceness of Smith's lines. This is a key element to The Blackout's anthem like cheers that will hook you in and subdue you until you too are banging your head in time to the snare drum.

What sets this album apart from other albums is the element of diversity the band bring to the tracks, with tracks flowing from upbeat and hard hitting breakdowns like that in 'ShutTheFuckUppercut' and 'Said & Done' , whilst also heading into a subtle light melodies with 'Top of the World' and 'Silent (When We Speak)'. Not only does this show the fact that they have grown as artists but it clearly demonstrates that they are not focused on one sound, but more so they are set on writing excellent music which is something they do not fall short on.

Alongside 'ShutTheFuckUppercut', there were three other singles to come off of the album 'Children of the Night', 'Save Ourselves (The Warning)' and 'I Don't Care (This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things)' with fan favourite 'Save Ourselves (The Warning)' gaining the most coverage and became the most commercial single off of the album. The Blackout have proved to us that it doesn't matter who you are, you can still pump your fist whilst you screaming 'We're going out, going out going out!' and still get a kick out of it.

On an album where every track stands for itself, you find yourself constantly tapping your foot along to the track and singing along to the chants that Gavin Butler screams with pride. At little under 35 minutes 'The Best In Town' delivers a thoroughly enjoyable listen which will be taking over your most played playlist and tempts you back for more with every listen.

90%.

For Fans Of: Mallory Knox, Young Guns, You Me At Six.
My Key Tracks: 'ShutTheFuckUppercut' , 'Save Ourselves (The Warning)' and 'Said & Done'.