As a Middle Tennessee-based band unafraid to crank it up, the hard-edged riff-rock quartet Malibu Blackout completed a machine-hum-loud full-length debut with the late 2023 release of The Nights Were Wrapped in Gold, amplifying The Black Keys’ power-duo sound times two while starting to drift into the electrifying territory of The Raconteurs.
The uniqueness of the album lies in everyone seemingly crowding the mics, all with brutalizing drive in a dense wall-of-dude-sound while lyrically regretting a breakup. The power players’ duetting dynamics reach a crescendo, possibly accidentally, in unexpected parts of the song at times (making for a good Rage Against the Machine-type overdrive in “Momento,” at least).
More showboating from Malibu Blackout—Adam Blum (guitar), Chris Husak (vocals/drums), Cory Johnson (vocals/guitar) and David “Woody” Woods (bass)—is established in a roll-call-solo section of the coincidentally titled and introductory track “Watch Yo Step,” with all band members appearing to energetically join together on vocals, performing seemingly non-sequitur lyrics.
The dudes spread out into a Western-styled rockabilly sound in “Big Sky.” As a dark-toned rockabilly rhythm holds up the riff-rock drive, a rasping, yelling vocal rises up with grim imagery like Worn soles, cracked palms pester me now / High noon, buzzards circling around.
On the other hand, “Void” taps into an upbeat dance punk intention, pop-rocking heartbreak’s guilt with the careful, blame-avoidant lyric You won’t like this forever / I just want to keep you safe / I just want to relate / We’ll always be bound together / There’s not just one of us to blame, which saves face, showing wisdom in them bones as the world genuinely and complexly works in a way where it’s somehow possible for all of those emotions (guilt, pop-rocking, heartbreak and continuing a different form of love) to uncontrollably flood together. It’s quite a testament masked here.
Find Malibu Blackout’s The Nights Were Wrapped in Gold across the icons on Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music, iHeart Radio, SoundCloud and at malibublackout.bandcamp.com. Find more on the band and social media links at linktr.ee/malibublackout.
Malibu Blackout’s next live show will be Feb. 10, 2024, from 6–8 p.m. at The 5 Spot in East Nashville with special guests The Country Punks, possibly a good “date night” for any couple-turned-old friends, continuing on. Tickets can be found at tunehatch.com/shows/26006000.
