I want to namecheck bands like At The Drive In when I talk about Blakfish, but sonically there’s a bit of a difference. I guess it’s possibly in attitude or just the general energy. But no matter how hard I try and shake it off, that ADTI feel returns.
Anyway, Blakfish are a ruddy exciting band and while this album is perhaps one or two songs too long, on the whole it’s superb. It’s angry and aggressive and at times totally bonkers. They’re doing things lots of other bands already do, just none of then seem to be able to chuck it all in the same pot – Blakfish take influence from Glassjaw and Horse Thw Band but manage to do something new and fresh. It’s invigorating and interesting, kind of in the same way as what Rolo Tomassi have done, albeit with a different sound.
It’s not melodic or accessible enough for a Gallows-type explosion into the mainstream, but ‘Champions’ is a very good record that will undoubtedly end up on many ‘best of’ critics lists at the end of the year.