`Blame The Young` is the third album by the Taunton based Alternative Rock Band October Drift
The album’s central theme is ownership of our own decisions, actions, and choices with an element of youthful defiance.
Title track `Blame The Young` leads us in and according to the band, it’s a track about “standing up against denial, be that on a personal level or seen in the wider spectrum of society.” It`s a fairly defiant offering which has a racing drum pulse with lyrics that are shared in an almost stream of consciousness format. A song with a message of solidarity and mutual support, emphasising the strength found in unity follows with `Demons` which is pretty anthemic.
`Nothing Makes Me Feel (The Way You Do)` has a kind of shimmer and hints at the emotional unpredictability of relationships. There`s a real slow burn to `Wallflower` a pretty introspective observational piece.
`Don’t Care` is a powerful blistering number that seems full of enragement and frustration about how modern life can almost overwhelm you. We have a deeply intensive number in `Everybody Breaks` which was influenced by the poem Not Waving But Drowningby Stevie Smith. A dramatic and rousing thoughtful listen.
`Borderline` is a stirring composition and a number that i`m sure will be a live favourite with its singable chorus line. The challenges of relationships in the unpredictable world of music are uncovered on the rising and ascending `Tyrannosaurus Wreck` which has some stirring guitar chord riffs.
`Hollow` does have a cavernous feel initially but becomes quite mesmeric as it evolves and draws you into its absorbing ambience while `Heal` is about breaking our negative habits, not putting ourselves down or holding back, while also analysing the way systems and social structures can keep people down too. It`s a meditative nigh on philosophical passionate musing that builds in intensity as it concludes.
The album closes out on `Not Running Anymore` which seems to relate to facing up to and accepting the challenges and difficulties that come your way. It opens with orchestrated strings and builds in musical force giving it an overriding strength.
`Blame the Young` I felt was an album that has shown a real development and maturity from the band. There are songs that have a soaring intensity, some a delightful melodic landscape and others that are a much more reflective and introspective that share some nuggets of wisdom. There`s plenty here for the committed supporter of the band and something fresh that i`m sure will draw others to the joys of October Drift.
Rating 8.5/10
