A genre-striding quartet from Blackpool, Blanket are back with their latest album, Ceremonia (Church Road Records). It is their third record and sees them continue their emotive brand of Post-Rock and Shoegaze, with the metal influences from their previous album Modern Escapism replaced with nineties Alternative Rock. 

This alt-rock element adds heft to their multifaceted and emotive Post-Rock, and helps keep it fresh. The opening track “Nuclear Boy Scout”, with its brooding riff and Hard Rock heft, and the rumbling bass, potent energy and Foo Fighters “This Is A Call”-like stylings of the title track are two energetic examples of this. “Kaleidoscope” brings a healthy portion of Grunge, with its  woozy verses, quiet/loud dynamic and great, big dirty riffs.

Juxtaposition is a central part of “Loom” – a soft, melancholic vocal melody is wedded to deliciously heavy, distortion filled guitars. This use of soft and heavy is also key to the emotionally charged “Porcelain”. A light and airy melody starts things off and this very quickly grows in volume and power, completed by an emphatic chorus. It is an oft-used but effective device, helping the songs pack a punch.

It is not all pounding drums and raucous guitars. “Sea Of Bliss” is a mournful piano ballad and a welcome change of pace, bringing to mind “There Goes My Cool” by Royal Blood. The similarly titled “A Sea of Bliss” is another refreshingly different number; it is an atmospheric track with a hypnotic drum beat and an ethereal feel to it. Not all the slower, more ruminative moments hit the right note though, as the morose “Final Call” testifies to – an unfortunate way to end an otherwise good album.

Ceremonia sees the Blackpool quartet mix Alt-Rock to their established Post-Rock-meets-Shoegaze sound, resulting in emotive Rock ‘N Roll which packs a visceral punch.

Buy the album here:
https://blanketofficial.bandcamp.com/album/ceremonia

7 / 10
THOMAS THROWER