The Blackout formed in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales in 2003. They were a punk rock band with a lineup that included Sean Smith on vocals, Matthew James and James Evans on guitars, Gareth Jones on bass, and Mark Williams on drums. Their music had an energetic, hard-hitting quality that came through in songs like 'My Generation' and 'Ambition Is Critical'.
In 2006, they released their self-titled debut album on Rockstar Records, though they were dropped from the label that same year. They eventually signed with Epitaph Records and put out several more albums, including 'We Are the Dynamite' in 2008 and 'Hope' in 2011. Around 2007, some critics accused their lyrics of promoting violence and homophobia, which the band denied, saying they were just writing about working-class youth experiences.
Their 2008 song 'My Generation' became particularly well-known, capturing a certain frustration that resonated with listeners during the economic recession. They kept recording and touring, releasing 'Wolves' in 2014 before eventually breaking up in 2017.
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
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