The Blackout Pact…

The Blackout Pact "Hello Sailor" (Astromagnetics)

Discovered by Thursday's Geoff Rickley, The Blackout Pact signed with Rickley's label Astromagnetics in 2004. The band quietly put out their Rickley-produced debut album Hello Sailor at the end of 2005. I picked this album up when I saw that the band had been asked, along with the amazing Latterman, to be tour openers for the almighty Lawrence Arms. Sounding nothing like Thursday, The Blackout Pact mine the same territory as bands like Latterman, Hot Water Music and even Small Brown Bike. The band's style lies somewhere between emotional hardcore and melodic punk. Overall Hello Sailor is a strong debut album for The Blackout Pact but one that is certainly not without flaws. While the band knows how to write a catchy punk/hardcore tune, they often struggle to differentiate their songs from one another. While Hello Sailor is certainly an enjoyable listen, you may find at the end that there are really only a few songs that truly stand out on their own. The band is simply at its best when it chooses to mix up the tempos of their songs. Too often the songs resemble each other and the album has a tendency to become stagnant at times. This being only their debut, you hope The Blackout Pact can continue to grow and learn cause the band seems to possess a great deal of promise for the future. When the band does connect in their songwriting it's a beautiful thing. The Blackout Pact has the chops to write an album full of sing-along anthems…they just have not reached that plateau yet. Give them some time.

RIYL: Hot Water Music, Latterman, Small Brown Bike

Listen: 

The Blackout Pact - We Drink So You Don't Have To (mp3)

The Blackout Pact - Welcome To The Refreshment Room (mp3)

The Blackout Pact - You Punch Me, I Punch You (mp3)