Heavy gaze. That’s my thing. Proper heavy guitars that obliterate your eardrums. I’ve always had a soft spot for bands who can balance that with melody and deliver songs that proper hook you in. That’s where Blanket find themselves as their new album, True Blue (noooo not THAT one) arrives. My experience with their previous albums is limited but from what I’ve been told, this should be my kinda thing.
Going in, I tried to keep my head clear. I had heard the talk about the band leaning further into gaze territory, but I didn’t want to frame the record before it had a chance to settle in. I’m getting ahead of myself here. If, like me, you’re giving Blanket a first listen here the let me introduce them. They’re four lads from the North West of England. Bobby Pook is on guitar and vocals, Simon Morgan also on guitar, Bass is handled by Ash Betton with Lucas Fletcher banging the drums. This will be the bands follow up to 2024’s Ceremonia album. On the subject of how they approached this new album here’s what they had to say.
“When we wrote True Blue, it felt like the whole thing finally fell into place, the vibe, the lyrics, the meaning, everything started to make sense. The track, and really the whole record, is about brighter days, a bit of nostalgia, and finding beauty in the small, quiet moments. We used samples from films like Nomadland, which felt right and added to the atmosphere we were trying to build.”
This sounds like it’s going to be an optimistic listen, lets dive in and find out.
The very short instrumental and textural piece ‘The Swallows Reflecting In The Water’ opens the album. Like an orchestra tuning up it just prepares us with a flavour of the sonic palate we’re about to enjoy.
‘Hole In My Head’ pulls the curtain back and we’re smacked square about the face with Blankets take on that Philly gaze sound. Everything is dialled up to ten. The riffs are sharp and on point, vocal melodies are hooky but don’t dominate the mix, drums are apocalyptically loud and in yer face. This is a potent way to kick off the album and a real statement of intent. Blanket are taking no prisoners.
There’s no let up on ‘Levitate’ next. If anything, it deepens their resolve. There’s a great use of melody here. Check out how the vocals melodies seamlessly hand off to the guitars after the soaring choruses. Also, when the volume drops ever so slightly in the instrumental break we hear another. It’s an intricate web of a song this one.
‘Bind’ introduces a new shade with the addition of Wayside, but it never feels like a guest moment for the sake of it. The songs lulls into thinking this is going to be a quieter ballad type affair before bursting to full fuzzy glory when the vocals come in. The intensity is certainly amped up here with the guitars riding that wave of feedback throughout. All that said, the melodies remain and shine through in spades.
‘Leaning On You’ acts as a subtle pivot point. Here the band moves from intensity into atmospherics. The band paint the air with soft textures punctuated with the blunt force of fuzz where required. It’s a tender vocal melody and is couched in this opulent opus making us feel very spoiled indeed as listeners,
Up next ‘Summer Skin’ builds on that tender mood. Lynsey Ward’s vocal adds a soft glow that lifts the track without ever taking over or overwhelming it. The way the song swells and then pulls back again shows just how controlled this record is, even at its most emotive. The band have put so much thought and care into planning the dynamics of these songs.
Speaking of dynamic ‘Wallflower’ brings the velocity and movement back into focus. There are moments hear that feel like they should sit on a 4AD album from the nineties such is their sheen. Then the song turns on a penny and smacks you about the face again. Hats off to Fletcher for a stellar drum performance here!
All too soon we are at the end with the title track. ‘True Blue’ finishes things off with a fitting flourish. That contrast between the crescendo post rock sound and that gentle acoustic guitar passage at the end is superb. Whilst the ending comes all too soon it is the perfect full stop to this collection.
Now bear in mind my knowledge of their previous work is limited but that said, True Blue feels like Blanket locking into something that really suits them. The heaviness is absolutely there, loud and physical when it needs to be, but it’s the way they temper it with melody and dynamics really makes this a special listen. Every song feels considered. Nothing is thrown in for impact alone. You can almost hear them thinking carefully about how long to hold tension and when to let it spill over. Even when the record ends quicker than you might want to, it never feels unfinished. It feels deliberate.
This is Blanket sounding comfortable in their own skin, confident enough to lean into the gaze without losing their punch. If True Blue is about honesty and commitment, then this album lives up to its name. Blanket sound absolutely true blue to themselves here.
True Blue is out January 16th 2026 via Adventure Cat Records. You can check them out over on the Blanket Bandcamp page.
You can follow Blanket on social media here…
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