Hope (The Blackout album)
Hope is the third studio album by Welsh post-hardcore band The Blackout.
Hope | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 4 April 2011 | |||
Studio | AIR, Angelic, The Yard | |||
Genre | Post-hardcore, alternative metal | |||
Length | 40:34 | |||
Label | Cooking Vinyl | |||
Producer | Jason Perry | |||
The Blackout chronology | ||||
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Singles from Hope | ||||
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Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 71/100[1] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AltMusicHub | [2] |
Melodic | [3] |
Rock Sound | 8/10[4] |
Production
The album was first announced in mid-2010 that the band had begun work on the album. The album was recorded at the end of 2010 and was funded by donations by fans on the website PledgeMusic. Recording was held at AIR Studios, Angelic Studios, and The Yard, with producer Jason Perry. Adam Noble acted as engineer, with additional engineering from Perry; the pair did Pro Tools editing. An assistant engineer aided them at each studio: Fiona Cruickshank (AIR), Tom Fuller (Angelic), and Mark Allaway (The Yard). Due to drummer Gareth Lawrence does not drum on the album, his place was taken by drummers Phillip Jenkins of Kids in Glass Houses and Tom Winch of Hexes. John Mitchell mixed all of the recordings, before they were mastered by Tom Baker at Precision Mastering.[5]
Release
On 12 January 2011, vocalist Gavin Butler said their new album would be titled Hope.[6] "Ambition Is Critical" was released as a free download on 21 January from the group's website.[7] Following the track being played on BBC Radio 1's Rock Show,[8] a music video was released for the track on 25 January.[9] Two days later, the album's artwork and track listing were revealed.[10] The first single to be released from the album was Higher & Higher, which features Hyro Da Hero. The formerly titled "Whatever You Hear, Don't Scream" was released on 13 February 2011 on iTunes as a one track single. On 28 March 2011 it was released again this time with two b-sides, a Tek One remix and a Live recording from their Nottingham Show on the My Chemical Romance World Contamination Tour.
In March and April, the group went on a UK tour alongside the Swellers and Hyro da Hero.[7] A music video was released for "Never by Your Side" on 10 May.[11] Kerrang! magazine revealed that it would be released as the second single with an expected release date of 30 May.[12] On 18 July, a music video was released for "The Storm".[13] The group appeared at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in August,[14] before headlining the main stage at Merthyr Rock festival in September.[15] A music video was released for "You're Not Alone" on 23 September.[16] In October and November, the group went on a UK headlining tour with support from We Are the Ocean and Canterbury.[17]
Track listing
All music and lyrics by the Blackout and Jason Perry, except for "Higher & Higher" by the Blackout, Perry, and Hyron Fenton.[5]
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Ambition Is Critical" | 4:01 |
2. | "Never by Your Side" | 3:26 |
3. | "Higher & Higher" (feat. Hyro da Hero) | 3:17 |
4. | "Hope (Scream It Out Loud)" | 3:45 |
5. | "This Is Our Time" | 3:06 |
6. | "The Last Goodbye" | 4:09 |
7. | "No More Waiting" | 3:36 |
8. | "The Devil Inside" | 3:15 |
9. | "You're Not Alone" | 3:37 |
10. | "Keep on Moving" | 3:59 |
11. | "The Storm" | 4:25 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Party Hard" (Andrew W.K. cover) | 3:07 |
2. | "Lump" (The Presidents of the United States of America cover) | 2:11 |
3. | "Save Tonight" (Eagle-Eye Cherry cover) | 3:31 |
4. | "Fight for Your Right to Party" (Beastie Boys cover) | 3:11 |
5. | "You're Not Alone" (acoustic) | 3:33 |
6. | "Hope" (acoustic) | 4:13 |
Personnel
Personnel per booklet.[5]
The Blackout
Additional musicians
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Production and design
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Charts
Chart (2011) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Albums Chart[18] | 27 |
UK Rock Albums Chart[19] | 1 |
UK Indie Albums Chart[20] | 6 |
References
- "Hope by The Blackout" – via www.metacritic.com.
- "AltMusicHub review".
- Winberg, Pär (30 April 2011). "The Color Fred - The Intervention". Melodic. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
- "The Blackout - Hope - Reviews". Rock Sound Magazine.
- Hope (booklet). The Blackout. Cooking Vinyl. 2011. COOKCD537X.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Rock Sound (12 January 2011). "The Blackout Reveal New Album Title". Rock Sound. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- Rock Sound (21 January 2011). "Sean Smith Is Rock Sound's New Agony Uncle". Rock Sound. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- Rock Sound (24 January 2011). "The Blackout's New Single Online Tonight". Rock Sound. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- Rock Sound (25 January 2011). "The Blackout - Ambition Is Critical". Rock Sound. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- Rock Sound (27 January 2011). "The Blackout Unveil Artwork And Tracklisting For Hope". Rock Sound. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- Rock Sound (10 May 2011). "The Blackout - Never By Your Side". Rock Sound. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- Dan (28 April 2011). "Watch the Making Of The Blackout's new video!". Archived from the original on 4 May 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
- Rock Sound (18 July 2011). "The Blackout 'The Storm' Video". Rock Sound. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- Wolstenholme, Gary (28 August 2011). "Reading And Leeds Festival 2011: The Blackout". Rock Sound. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- Rock Sound (24 August 2011). "Stage Times For Merthyr Rock Revealed". Rock Sound. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- Rock Sound (23 September 2011). "The Blackout - You're Not Alone". Rock Sound. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- Rock Sound (3 October 2011). "The Blackout Confirm Christmas Shows". Rock Sound. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- "TOP 40 OFFICIAL UK ALBUMS ARCHIVE". Official Charts Company. 16 April 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
- "TOP 40 ROCK & METAL ALBUMS ARCHIVE". Official Charts Company. 16 April 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
- "TOP 40 INDEPENDENT ALBUMS ARCHIVE". Official Charts Company. 16 April 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2011.