Blowouts

Deadweight (2012)

Rich Cocksedge

Last year I reviewed the taster for this six-track EP, the title track being released as a single, in every respect of the word, to whet the appetites of punk rockers across the globe. With that one track Blowouts managed to display a whole load of promise and now the full release has landed as a fully fledged EP.

The first thing that is noticeable when listening to the additional five tracks is that Blowouts are not sticking to that total, short, sharp, balls out attack as featured on the title track; rather the band looks to provide a mix of melodic punk rock that probably fits in with the influences that members of the band have rather than seeking out a single identity for themselves. What they do well is to mix those influences from both sides of the Atlantic to create a decent sound, with some well-structured songs that make for easy listening.

Out of the five additional tracks, "Lackluster," "Fool's Gold" and "Brass Tacks" (which clocks in at over six minutes) are all particularly strong songs that have good sounding guitar work and a catchiness to them. Those two qualities are what Blowouts seem to be using, along with the ability to not get stuck in a rut, to get themselves noticed, and it seems they're doing a decent job in that respect.

At the end of the day, however, I think "Deadweight" is by far and away the best track on the EP and although I prefer that more frantic, melodic approach from the band, it's impossible to ignore the fact that they're trying to be something a little bit more than just being a band which is easy to pigeonhole, and in doing so they are not doing themselves any harm.

I've yet to see these guys live, which is ridiculous given I live in the same city as them, but I'm hoping that when I do manage to catch Blowouts live, they live up to the expectations built up from this release.