Blackout Brigade

Reassuring that sometimes imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Winnipeg's Blackout Brigade give a wholehearted effort at redesigning Rancid's upbeat melodies and overt bounciness to attain something they can call their own. Injecting a touch of oi flavour and occasional jests - the two-second Twisted Sister reference is great - into their thinly veiled take on ...And Out Come The Wolves some nearly 14 years later, neither Blackout Brigade nor Death And Dishonesty are profoundly inventive but they are most certainly passionate. Moreover, it is important to note that Blackout Brigade aren't exactly slouches when it comes to crafting a particularly catchy melody. Death And Dishonesty has its moments of powerful chunk and mid-'90s punk-influenced glory. No, it's not the most original music going but when performed with such intensity and sincerity, it's deserving of more praise than most "unique" bands seem to acquire.