Album Review: Blackhole - Dead Hearts

Finally. After what seems like a wait that has been forever, we can now all listen to Blackhole songs in highly produced quality, instead of the 4 track EP that was sold on the countless tours they have played where it sounds like it has been burnt onto a scratched CD-R. But has the wait been worth it, for all the fans that have had the opportunity to see the band support countless bands to hear the wealth of their songs? To put it simply, yes.

I am a strong believer of credit to only be given where credit is due, and the first time I listened to the opening track ‘Don’t Cry’, I was mindblown. I have always viewed Richard Carter as quite a strong vocalist in this genre of music, however as he kicks into the slurred out burly scream/shouts of “I... Am... Not The Elephant... Man..” the listener feels somewhat entranced and compelled to be subjected to the rest of the record and what else Carter has pulled out of the bag. And of course, the further you listen, the more you gain.

As mentioned before, it sounds incredible to hear re-mastered and better produced versions of tracks that we’ve been listening to what seems like an eternity, and when the tell-tale sluggish riff that opens up ‘Witches’, you can tell that the band haven’t been lazy and just recorded the same song. They have seemed to take an already fist-clenching feet-stomping head-banging track and turned it from a beast into an absolute monster. The same can be said for their other older tracks, such as ‘Forever’ and ‘Tides’.

It’s also the newer songs that impress tenfold. Keeping in the same vein as ‘Don’t Cry’, the rest of the album doesn’t let up and just keeps on pounding you into submission. The album consistently keeps hitting home runs and ticking all boxes in the hardcore genre. Such tracks as ‘Post-It-Will’ and ‘Scared To Change’ have over-empowering guitar riffs that really do entertain the ear drums and would cause even the most distant listener to focus in on what they are listening to.

The only real criticism I can give to the album is that it doesn’t really take the genre into new depths or new areas to experiment with. It’s typical hardcore-by-numbers, but it’s done down to the point and follows all the rules in the book. Carter excels in all fields on vocals and it is amazing that such a small band in the music industry can have some of the most blood curdling vocals in the business. I expect this album to take the band to new levels, and if this doesn’t happen, then its daylight robbery stolen by one of the less talented band on the scene.In essence, Blackhole has tried to break out of the Gallows mould they have been slotted into before, and this album is definitive proof that they have created a feral and snarling wild beast of their own.

4/5

'Dead Hearts' by Blakhole is available now Search and Destroy.

Blakhole on Myspace

Andy Touch