This album is a perfect time capsule of the world that we live in today, a world filled with hostility, mystification, and fear.

On (hed) Planet Earth’s second major-label recording, Blackout, the sextuplet from Southern California shows their tuneful sides while staying true to their rap-metal thrash sound that fans love. While the band has enjoyed success within their realm of the rap-metal industry, this album is their shot at breaking out of that category and into the mainstream.

Though the band’s first album, Broke , continues to sell three years after its release, there are obvious differences between the albums. Broke had a much more raw and darker feel, whereas Blackout is still heavy but also has a melodic pop sense to it. On it, the band shows not a softer side, but an almost humane side.

Vocally and musically, Blackout leaps bounds over Broke . The heavy bass guitar riffs are masterfully placed over the smooth vocal sounds of frontman Jahred. There are several standout tracks on the album, including, “Suck it up,” “Bury Me,” “Dangerous,” the first single, “Blackout,” and “Other Side.” “Getaway” is also a standout track, as it mixes reggae with aggressive, angst-filled rock.

With all the rap-metal acts on the music scene at the moment—including Korn, Linkin Park, and Limp Bizkit—hopefully, (hed) Planet Earth will not be put on the back burner of the industry. With the release of Linkin Park’s new album Meteora, fans may forget about Blackout, but don’t make that mistake: this album is a perfect time capsule of the world that we live in today, a world filled with hostility, mystification, and fear.

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