Album Review: Even In Blackouts – Romantico!

Even In Blackouts have released their first new album in a decade, Romantico!, that is now available on CD and vinyl via Stardumb Records and digitally via Bandcamp. Even In Blackouts originally broke up in 2009 after releasing four albums, but now ten years later they are back with original members Liz Eldrege and the former Screeching Weasel guitarist John ‘Jughead’ Pierson, along with a team of collaborators that includes long term member Scott ‘Gub’ Conway, to bring you their brand new sixteen track full length.

My first experience of Even In Blackouts was the somewhat oddly titled remastered compilation, The Princess Foretold By Her Henchmen, that was released last year and signalled the band’s return. Once you get past the whimsical introduction you hit the sub one minute opener, Pissing Poison, that shows that Even In Blackouts have just picked up where they left off and it’s almost like the last lost decade never happened. Romantico! has moments to treasure, such as the short sharp fuzzed up punk of The Denouncement and the frantic Reason, that are up there with anything Even In Blackouts have previously recorded. 

Romantico! delivers it’s sixteen tracks in just over half an hour, there are few epic tracks, with only Intention In Tension crossing the four minute mark. Even In Blackouts have retained the stunning vocal delivery from Liz Eldrege that is coupled with an experimental acoustic soundtrack, a combination that at times it puts me in mind of an overdriven Jefferson Airplane. Even In Blackouts constantly shift the attitude and emphasis on the album between punk rock, folk punk, pop punk and rock, for me the high points of Romantico! are when they keep things short and sharp, but it must be said that this is a damn fine comeback album.

Romantico! can be purchased on vinyl and CD via Stardumb Records here

You can stream and purchase Romantico! via Bandcamp here