‘…a deep-seated hope that permeates ‘RIOT’, a hope that makes you feel like this is the beginning of something very special for one of the rising stars of alternative scene…‘
It’s been three years since we last got an album from Munich-based alternative rock act, Blackout Problems. ‘DARK‘ was an eclectic listen; a collection of politically charged anthems that varied in tone and style, featuring some particularly brilliant tracks such as ‘MURDERER‘, ‘GERMANY, GERMANY‘, and ‘DRIVEBY‘. The album, despite being picked up by big publications such as Kerrang, became something of a hidden gem of 2021.
Thankfully, their hard work didn’t go unnoticed, and the band have been picked up by scene legends Enter Shikari for two separate tours. It feels like it’s been a real shot of adrenaline for the outfit, who are now looking forwards to a headline tour across the UK and mainland Europe, in support of their new record, ‘RIOT‘.
Whilst the band is now a three-piece, with drummer Michael Dreilich having left in 2022, the band continue to expand upon their electronic rock stylings; whilst the experimentation on this record is lesser, the cohesiveness of the entire listen is greatly improved, culminating in a record that feels less like a collection of singles, but instead an exploration of a single concept.
Despite the title, and the band’s prior work, politics takes more of a back seat on ‘RIOT‘. Pawing through the lyrics on the album, ‘RIOT‘ feels very much like an exploration of the self, and the strength we can find in others, set against a backdrop of a world that seems to endlessly be on fire; allusions to the political state of the world are made, but ‘RIOT‘ is less about calling it out, and more about how you’re supposed to live through it all.
‘WHALES‘ is a particularly great example of this. A charged anthem for the politically lost, it explores the messy state of modern politics and the division that is deep rooted in society, but does so through the sense of isolation it can leave you feeling weighed down by (‘I’m going all in/Hang me for it/In this lonely place called internet/If that’s the way for you to go, so be it‘). Vocalist Mario Radetzky’s powerful performance is backed by a thunderous electronic focused instrumental, ramping things up in the back half with an electrifying tempo change.
The album features a great run of tracks during the midsection, commencing with ‘TROUBLE‘. Blackout Problems’ penchant for crafting infectious choruses shines through on this album, with ‘TROUBLE‘ in particularly packing a simple but effective melody that ensures you feel compelled to sing along. The pseudo-breakdown in the bridge is a nice little touch that doesn’t deviate from the core identity of the track..
‘STASH‘ is a beast lead by driving bass and percussion, with a great instrumental bridge that builds into a glorious final chorus, whilst ‘PUZZLE‘ features groove-focused musicianship and vocals that are delivered with a slick and smooth flow during the verses, before unfolding into powerful choruses. ‘FUNERAL‘, however, is arguably the highlight of the entire album; a deeply uplifting track that has a gorgeous lead vocal melody, and subtle weaving guitar lines that add some beautiful texturing to the track. The album’s themes are truly brought to life here, with Radetzky penning some wonderfully human lyrics that capture that sense of finding strength in those that you keep close to you (‘A new fire’s ignited when/Your tiny fingers draw/This cruel and ugly world/In colors I never thought I’d know‘).
Whilst the momentum of the album does begin to stumble as it draws to a close, there’s enough here to keep the listener engaged. An appearance from Enter Shikari’s Rou Reynolds on ‘GLOFS‘ is a great moment, truly giving the impression that this is the band Shikari are handing the baton off to in creating a bright new wave in the alternative scene. ‘TALKTOME‘ commences as an acoustic number before building to a surprisingly touching cinematic finish, whilst the closing track ‘TALKTOME (II)‘ captures the hopefulness and determination that drives not just this record, but Blackout Problems as a band, despite all of the struggles they have faced both musically and personally (‘We were broke, We felt fucked/We were one man short which sucked/But we didn’t ever stop‘).
‘RIOT‘ feels like an important moment for Blackout Problems. It’s clear through their music that the band have faced incredible difficulties over the past few years, yet have persevered and arrived at the cusp of what feels like their second act. Having played to large audiences all over the continent with one of the biggest bands in the alternative scene, it is now their chance to show what they have taken from that opportunity, and how they will turn it into something wonderous.
There is a deep-seated hope that permeates ‘RIOT‘, a hope that makes you feel like this is the beginning of something very special for one of the rising stars of alternative scene.
RATING: 77/100 – Mostly Very Good
For Fans Of: Enter Shikari, Muse, Bastille, The One Hundred, Alazka
Physical copies of the album are available to purchase here.
Follow the band on social media below:
VINYL FANTASY REVIEWS 
Leave a comment