Album Review: ‘RIOT’ by Blackout Problems

The album opens with ‘DNA’, a collaboration with Leoni Klinger from synth-pop duo UMME BLOCK. Right from the start, Blackout Problems’ Mario Radetzky screams angrily into the mic. Backed up by heavy drums and guitar, Radetzky seems to sing about political divides, evident in lyrics such as “to all who may fear the change of our system, I’ve heard it’s coming”. The chorus is sung by Klinger, providing the listener with softer vocals. “I’m a drug and I’m addictive” she repeats throughout the track. The difference in sound between the two artists works perfectly and makes for a catchy opener to ‘RIOT’.

The album includes a total of five previously released singles. ‘WHALES’, the track the band released just a week prior to the album as a whole, is their angriest track ever made. On this song, they sing about several current affairs, including hatred on the internet, climate change – “like whales stranded on the shore of England” – and war – “another bomb on a house, and another dozen civilians die”. On top of the issues discussed, Radetzky sings about the lean towards the right Germany is making, and that they’ll “vote you the fuck out” – referring to German party AFD specifically. Despite it all, they still feel hope and a need to speak out, because their “flame won’t die”. Backed up by intense guitars and drums throughout the whole song, the rage is absolutely evident on this one.  

The third track on the album is ‘TROUBLE’, which includes more of the signature angry vocals, yet has a softer chorus where Radetzky sings “let us both get in trouble”. Like the previous songs, it seems to be about the current state of the world and standing up against those in power. The ‘trouble’ they are getting into could refer to protesting. Even though there are people trying to break them down, they “won’t crack”. In the track, they call for peace in the second verse, before delving back into the chorus and finally an instrumental breakdown upon Radetzky dropping a f-bomb. In the outro, the band calls to “get our hands dirty, pull our minds out of the mid, get our fucking problems sorted” – essentially, to wake up and riot for what is right. 

The single ‘STASH’, released at the end of January, is the album’s “love song” and speaks about committing to someone, no matter what. The band has stated that it continues on from the songs they’ve written about relationships on their prior albums – it’s not a sweet one, but talks about continuing with your significant other after everything you have both gone through. It speaks about love almost like an addiction, with Radetzky in the chorus singing “just a little to get high off you when you get high off me”. A very catchy guitar riff plays throughout the track, making it perfect to dance and jump around to. 

Track five on the album was the first single released, ‘PUZZLE’. It starts with a funky guitar intro and background vocals before adding drums. The band wrote this specific track to deal with tumultuous times experienced around the world right now. In the first verse, Radetzky sings about “kill[ing] every inch inside of me that is not working well”. While not as angry as the rest of the album so far, it’s still an intense rock song that deals with the impact of the outside world on your own mental wellbeing. After the bridge, the background vocals from the intro return softly before the track heads into its final chorus, backed up by these vocals. 

“Let’s start a beautiful riot” Radetzky sings against the clicking sounds of the drum and the soft strums of the guitar, making a direct nod to the record’s title on ‘FUNERAL’. While still speaking about politics – “the kids are finally united” – it does so in a much more positive way, speaking about those who stand with you through it all. “You make me laugh when I wanna cry” Radetzky sings about the ones that have helped him overcome his struggles. It’s about finding each other in times of despair and being there for one another. While the chorus is still quite explosive, it is more so in a way that makes one want to dance around. Even acoustically, this song works perfectly – having had the privilege of hearing this at an intimate show in a small café in Cologne, it must be said that this track definitely brings out all the tears of joy, especially amongst band member Moritz Hammrich. It’s a wonderful thing to know that there are people who will be there for you and make you feel “a little less lonely”. 

After this lovely positive interval, the band moves on to ‘GLOFS’ – a heavy track made with Enter Shikari’s Rou Reynolds, inspired by the floods in parts of the Ahrtal in July 2021. A song about climate change and an invitation to discuss the impact this has on the world. The first verse is sung by Radetzky against the fast strumming of the guitar. After an instrumental break of the guitar and drums, the song heads into its first chorus where Radetzky sings about the “unwanted guest” that is the flood; mother nature taking its “sweet revenge”. The second verse is almost spoken word by Reynolds, referring to the floods as “Poseidon’s daughter” crushing everything in its vicinity. Radetzky ends the track by stating “it’s not about on which side you’re on”, seemingly stating that this issue affects us all. 

The album ends with several new tracks, the first of those being ‘BLACKROOM’. Continuing the political theme, it seems to speak about people attempting to ignore what is going on around them – “I am embarrassed to walk from a person asking for change” – because they’re “already depressed”. With drummer Marius Bornmann banging on the drums, Radetzky in the second verse sings about hoping that his “panic won’t come back”, speaking about the anxiety he has dealt with and gone to therapy for. 

On ‘TALKTOME’, Radetzky sings softly while the piano is being played. While the chorus is slightly angrier, it is overall the slowest track on the album on which the singer talks about ghosts being awoken and demons being fought. In its chorus, Radetzky states that he just needs somebody to talk to. In the bridge, a voice yells to “talk to me”, adding to the song’s feeling of despair and needing to talk to someone, who seemingly needs the singer right back as he states “I can only get you out alive if you pick up the phone”. The song ends with the piano just as it opened.

The second to last track is ‘TIREDICE’, which opens with deep vocal sounds before Radetzky sings “do you long for a sin?”. In the first verse, Radetzky once more mentions the “state we’re in”. While the verses are quite soft-spoken, the chorus sounds extremely angry, with Radetzky screaming the lyrics of not thinking that “we” – possibly referring to a relationship – would end. After an instrumental break of the guitar and percussion, and another rendition of the chorus, Radetzky repeatedly asks “what are you running from?” before the song fades out. 

Finally, the album ends with ‘TALKTOME (II)’, by far the longest track at over 6 minutes. The song seems to be about the last year and the changes both the band and the singer itself have gone through. He seems to have lost some people on the way and is trying to cope with having to “go through hell and come back home”. The last three minutes of the track have the singer repeat parts of the first verse, with high-pitched humming and guitar strumming making for a very magical track that also repeats the screams of “talk to me” from ‘TALKTOME’, before delving into a catchy drum beat that makes for a perfect album ender. 

On this album, Blackout Problems have discussed a bunch of issues going on in the world right now – wars, the shift to the right, hate speech on the internet and the loneliness that might ensue from this – against the backdrop of heavy guitars, drums, and intense backing vocals often provided by Leoni Klinger. It is certainly relatable to many people struggling to deal with the anxiety these issues may cause while trying to be on the right side of history and wanting to stand up for those in need and for what you believe in. The band is currently supporting Enter Shikari on their European tour and will embark on their own tour in support of this album in the fall of this year.