Rolling Blackout – Villagers and Pirates (2026)
With a steady reminder that just good, solid rock music has its place in this world, Rolling Blackout are here with their debut LP, Villagers and Pirates. Following a string of single releases over the last few years, they’ve been building momentum and have all led to this piece of perfectly curated collection of classic rock tracks.
Standing at 1 hour and 1 minute, this is one you’ve got to turn it up loud and strap yourself in to appreciate it fully. Kicking off with ‘Tequila Wind’, there is no denying where these guys are coming from with a flawless opening riff, accompanied by perfectly funky bass, setting the basis for any great rock song through the ages. Vocally, this track could be nothing but classic rock; the dual vocals for Joshua Landman and Bill Chapman, the tone and delivery are undeniably “Rock”.
Skipping forward, ‘Where Are You’ has metal vibes Ozzy himself would be proud of, whilst keeping true to the general rock vibe. Again, Landman’s guitar takes centre stage as he cements himself as a true axeman. With snappy, catchy lyrics, this is the track of the record for me and has been one I’ve returned to when I’ve not had an hour to enjoy Villagers and Pirates in full.
I do feel that Rolling Blackout have a knack for showcasing the many facets of rock, with the following track being a perfect example. With a slower, funkier vibe, ‘Fools Gold’ harks back to the rock bands of the 70’s, and it might sound like a lazy comparison, but I couldn’t help but draw comparisons with Led Zeppelin. I love the way Erick Goldman’s drums knit the whole act together as any great stickman does.
With the over 7-minute track, ‘The Villagers Tears’, Rolling Blackout took another road through rock with a sound that I really felt had a more prog influence, and I very much got vibes of Rush, with a slightly fluid tempo and a real feeling that it could go anywhere. Also, the vocals for me changed slightly, giving more credence to my observation of a prog approach with this track.
The curation of the record, I think, was a real boon, and credit needs to be given to the composition, from start to finish. No track seemed out of place, even when there were sharp turns in musical directions. Wrapping the album with ‘Pirates on the Seas of Times’ is a great example of the artistic awareness, and ending the record with a barrage of sound showcasing the band’s talent and how Landman, Chapman, Goldman and Palumbo all bring their own individual qualities to the table. The organic nature they blend is a testament to what such a solid unit Rolling Blackout is! So any fans of just good, solid rock must take the time and give Villagers and Pirates the attention it deserves.
Find out more about Rolling Blackout on their original website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Bandcamp and Spotify.
This artist was sent to us by Obsidian PR.
