EP Review: Blacked Out – Wasted Breath EP

Four years on from their last offering, Sereena, Vancouver skate/thrash quartet Blacked Out return on March 27^th with their new EP in tow;  backed by independent Canadian label Thousand Islands Records.

Barrelling in with a cry of “1, 2, 3, 4!” the band pound their way sturdily through the title track, ‘Wasted Breath’. Their musical credentials are all present – insistent drums, the chug and break of sharp chords garnished with metallic trills, a ‘euphoric’ chorus – but there’s also room for them to expand through a bouncing riff that coils down into a hearty breakdown complete with almost-rap vocals. It’s a strong start that the rest of the EP unfortunately becomes derivative of.

Each track is consistent in itself – ‘I Don’t Know’ rattles along on crunchy guitars and a soaring refrain, while ‘Shreddies’ leans heavily on a galloping rhythm and flaring fretboard licks; ‘Tribalism’ showcases yet more flexible finger work, and closing track ‘Wax Professional’ features some stirring harmonies above a stout, driving progression – but there’s a sense of dilution across the release as a whole. The drums start to fade in power and speed, the gang vocals start to lack fervour, the guitar flashes start to dull. It’s still a slick, professional production with more of an emphasis on the punkier slant of the band’s output. There’s nothing disagreeable here; this is solid songwriting and performing that Blacked Out themselves describe as ‘what happens when four old friends get together to play music they would have been stoked on when they were teenagers’; it does, regrettably, lack a lasting spark though.   

Like melodic crossover with an anthemic edge? Wasted Breath is available in various formats here.

Blacked Out can be found on Facebook and Bandcamp.