British Wildlife Festival: Blacklisters

Blacklisters (Leeds)

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Looking for something you can dance to? Keep walking sugarbritches, ‘caus yer not going to find it here. Not now. Described as Leeds’ “strongest and most handsome men,” Blacklisters deal in righteous, teeth-grinding, white-knuckle noise rock. All riffage akimbo and neck-snapping time changes, this is a hardcore din that you’re advised to keep concealed from your friends and neighbors lest you be labeled “socially undesirable.”

'Add to that, a burst of murder from Blacklisters and Bad For Lazarus would have had to have pulled something seriously stinking out of the hat to bring down the mood of these Monday night free-gig shenanigans. Blacklisters, for the record, seem to be growing more and more monstrous by the gig. Only catching them every few months is kind of like realising your little baby nephew grew horns and developed three times your IQ score since the last time you saw him.' - Hayley Avron

As a prelude to their new album due out in 2012, Blacklisters have a new single out titled I Can Confirm. After a quick shot of drum, the guitars verb into a dirty tempo, before Billy launches into his vocals. There is something a little more subtle about Billy’s vocals in comparison to Swords, which was their giveaway single when they signed to Brew Records. If you imagine your clench fist is a microphone and you aggressively taunt your vocals inbetween the fingers, you are getting close to how Billy’s vocals come across. It’s that constrained ire of someone who is in control, but still raging about it all. The other band members are more than happy to join Billy in ranting their instruments, although there are moments of lightness when either guitar or Alistair’s drums provide ample support. However, its when Blacklisters let go and rock that the real enjoyment shines through, none more so when I Can Confirm begins its final climb to the moment when Billy is left in a haze of distortion almost crying “I can’t help it” as though we should have suddenly found some sympathy for him. I Can Confirm offers the kind of controlled brutality of hardcore rock which when balanced the Blacklisters way is an exciting anticipation for the future.

Although traditionally a quiet time year in terms of musical output, I Can Confirm is a wonderful antidote to lashings of Christmassy Slade, Wizard and the no doubt obligatory X-Factor Christmas Number One (sadly Rage Against The Machine is seemingly that one swallow which doesn’t make a Summer). After hearing I Can Confirm, you'll be wishing the year away and looking forward to 2012 and Blacklisters full-length debut album.

Reviewed by Jimbo Walsh.