We're Unstoppable - Blacklisted

...(Deathwish Inc., 2004)
We're Unstoppable (Deathwish Inc., 2005)
...The Beat Goes On (Deathwish Inc., 2005)
Generations Compilation (Revelation Records, 2005)
Live from Nowhere, USA (6131 Records, 2006)
Peace on Earth, War on Stage (Deathwish Inc., 2007)
Heavier Than Heaven, Lonelier Than God (Deathwish Inc., 2008)

websites -

www.blacklistedhardcore.com
www.deathwish.com
more

Blacklisted are a Hardcore Punk band from Philapelphia, USA. They first started putting out music in early 2003 but had formed but not released material before this date. One of their first major releases and their first full length release was this one, "We're Unstoppable" which was realeased in 2005 on Deathwish Inc. records. However it is not as it seems as the songs featured on this full length album actually have come from two Ep's put out by the band at an earlier date.

The first six songs on this album were originaly off "Our youth is wasted..." Ep which was released on Stillborn records in 2003, and the last four songs were originaly off their Demo which was released on walk all night records earlier in 2003.

(my own personal rating to how good the song is is shown by the side of the track title out of 5.)

Lets get down to the songs! First song on the album is -

1 - "Long Way Home" 5/5

I've given this song a five out of five for the simple reason that although this is a very short song it seems alot longer than it actually is, and also because it is the perfect start to the album. The song kicks in with a background voice of "how are you this wasted, take 1"! abit random i know but straight after the song starts with a high tempo drum, symbol and bass combo and then runs straight into the lyrics of the song with an excelent mixture of extended screaming and then gang vocals to enthasise the lyrics.

2 - "Finding Faith" - 4/5

This songs has a longer intro than long way home with a simple guitar feedback and bass line. the song then kicks up a tempo with a long screaming intro which unleashes a wall of sound from drums, bass and heavey guitar. at no point however do you feel over welmed by the heavyness of the music and you call always hear the sepparate instruments at work and the lyrics being shouted quite clearly. also unlike long way home this song being longer makes use of a brillaint breakdown which enables the lyrics to be heard even more clearly and really gets the listener involved in the song even more.

3 - "That Ain't Real Much" - 4/5

This song licks in again after about a 10 secong intro of a simple guitar riff but then starts with the lyrics and gang vocals of "DONT CARE about my generation, DONT CARE if i stand or fall, DONT CARE about my reputation, i'm chasing aspirations i never saw" which is an amazing start to the song and really mixes it up from the rest of the songs on the album. after this the song builds up to a powerful guitar riff in the background while the over lyrics are shouted at slow then fast tempos towards the end of the song.

4 - "Crossed Fingers" - 4/5

This song is alot more faced paced than any of the rest right from the start of the song with both the drums and guitar going at breakneck speed and the vocals doing the same, half way through it slows down with a simple guitar riff with the chorus shoted over the top of "I never PROMISED YOU ANYTHING, i never PROMISED YOU ANYTHING." and has a brilliant piece of extended screaming thats comes right out of the gang vocals and into the next part of the song. Brilliant song!

5 - "3800 - (We're Unstoppable)" - 5/5

As well as being the title track for this combined album in my view its also probably one of the strongest tracks on the whole album. The song kicks in with gang vocals which is always a good start in a hardcore song! And also has a brilliant build up that kicks into a powerful guitar riff right at the start. then also has a complete breakdown towards the end which completly changes the tempo of the song and means it then has another chance to kick in with the guitar riff all over again with the shouted lyrics "im trying, im trying"

6 - "Transparent/Opaque" - 4/5

This song again has a longer intro of about 30 seconds before it completly changes to a very high tempo which is only broken by the extended screaming of the main chorus of "What makes you want to rely on me?". the song then fades out with a a repetative guitar and bass riff, it seems to be alot shorter than it actually is which is down to the fast tempo and the lyrics being shouted at such a high pace.

7 - "My Advive" - 31/2 / 5

This song as being the first song from the four songs that were from the demo you can straight away tell the difference as the song is alot more raw than the first six and the guitar amd drums especially are not as direct as they were. However the set of this song makes up for these imperfections as it starts off with a brilliant intro giving way to fast paced two step beats which then give way to a breakdown, extended screaming and an awesome piece of gang vocals.

8 - "Back and Forth" - 3/5

This song kicks in with a mid tempo beat and some excellent lyrics being shouted over the top which after abou 40 seconds gives way to a higher tempo beat which really kicks it up a gear and gets the blood pumping! this then drops down to a lower pace to really emphasise the lyrics that are being shouted.

9 - "Left Alone" - 4/5

Kicks in with an extended intro of heavy drums and guitar, some brilliant lyrics and vocal tallents on display in this song with a really effective changes in tempo throughout the song and it ends with a nice piece of gang vocals shouting "DONT KNOW WHAT I WANT DONT KNOW HOW TO GET IT, ALL I KNOW IS IN TIME I'LL LIVE TO REGRET IT."

10 - "Who Am I" - 3/5

this song starts of with a distorted guitar riff which carries right into the song, and has truely brilliant lyrics and vocals through out the song which are slow and then speed up at the end of every verse in line with the quick up shift in tempo from the guitar and drums.

Tracklist -

"Long Way Home" – 0:56
"Finding Faith" – 1:57
"That Ain't Real Much" – 1:30
"Crossed Fingers" – 1:35
"3800 (We're Unstoppable)" – 2:40
"Transparent/Opaque" – 2:28
"My Advice" – 1:13
"Back And Forth" – 1:44
"Left Alone" – 2:01
"Who I Am" – 1:49

The Band Live -

Went to go see Blacklisted headline on their european tour last september in Birmingham, was an amazing gig as i was half expecting the quility of the band to have dropped, but they really did put on a good show, was in a loft space above a pub and was on a flat deck with only an inch raised stage so was a really intimate gig and the whole band really exgaged the crowd once they got into the songs, not ones to talk inbetween songs though!

Conclusion on "We're Unstoppable" -

One of blacklisted's best releases for sure, if your a fun of the hardcore punk genre this is a must in your collection. The album showcases blacklisted tallents for quick changes in tempos, breakdowns, crushing guitar and drums, genius lyrics and an amazing vocal talent. Add to this the albums difference and originality between every track and the rawness of the last four songs being off the Ep and the later more well rounded songs which are shown in the first six on the album.

Discography -

Demo (Walk All Night Records, 2003)
Our Youth Is Wasted (Stillborn Records, 2003)
The Dead Man's Hand 03 Split [w/ First Blood] (Deathwish Inc., 2004)
We're Unstoppable (Deathwish Inc., 2005)
...The Beat Goes On (Deathwish Inc., 2005)
Generations Compilation (Revelation Records, 2005)
Live from Nowhere, USA (6131 Records, 2006)
Peace on Earth, War on Stage (Deathwish Inc., 2007)
Heavier Than Heaven, Lonelier Than God (Deathwish Inc., 2008)

websites -

www.blacklistedhardcore.com
www.deathwish.com
www.reflectionsrecords.com
www.myspace.com/blacklisted 

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