In Review
October Drift
Blame the Young
October Drift are back with their new album Blame the Young, via Physical Education Recordings. It is the band’s third full studio album and a great follow-on to the release of the band’s critically acclaimed second album, I Don’t Belong Anywhere. The record is a powerful collection of songs that explores huge life changes from a personal perspective, but is still relevant to the common threads of the human condition that are reflected in all of our lives.
Vocalist Kiran Roy said about Blame the Young, “A lot has changed amongst us since the last album. I think we’ve all had to have grown as people, and we’ve all made changes in our lives. There’s a sense of a journey, even pilgrimage, in this new album. I say pilgrimage because there is an almost spiritual element—it's sometimes hard to
explain why we write songs and what it means for people to hear them and to play them live and have people sing them back. This album is an escape for us and a route out of the regular.”
The album keeps the unique and instantly recognisable sound of October Drift, with the anthemic Demons hitting hard with a stunning opening that grabs the ear and keeps tight hold as Kiran’s lyrics tell a story of solidarity and underline the album’s theme of togetherness and understanding.
The whole album is a very nostalgic look back at relationships past and present, highlighting the imperfections in our relationships that everyone can identify with in some respect. Tyrannosaurus Wreck is a hard-hitting introspective that unashamedly discusses the breakdown of relationships while still giving us a lush tune to rock out to. The album closes with Not Running Anymore. Is the perfect end to a great album full of anthemic highs and atmospheric, thought-provoking tracks that make Blame the Young a well-rounded album giving an outlook on life in the modern world from the band’s own experiences and perspective.
Vocalist Kiran Roy said about Blame the Young, “A lot has changed amongst us since the last album. I think we’ve all had to have grown as people, and we’ve all made changes in our lives. There’s a sense of a journey, even pilgrimage, in this new album. I say pilgrimage because there is an almost spiritual element—it's sometimes hard to
explain why we write songs and what it means for people to hear them and to play them live and have people sing them back. This album is an escape for us and a route out of the regular.”
The album keeps the unique and instantly recognisable sound of October Drift, with the anthemic Demons hitting hard with a stunning opening that grabs the ear and keeps tight hold as Kiran’s lyrics tell a story of solidarity and underline the album’s theme of togetherness and understanding.
The whole album is a very nostalgic look back at relationships past and present, highlighting the imperfections in our relationships that everyone can identify with in some respect. Tyrannosaurus Wreck is a hard-hitting introspective that unashamedly discusses the breakdown of relationships while still giving us a lush tune to rock out to. The album closes with Not Running Anymore. Is the perfect end to a great album full of anthemic highs and atmospheric, thought-provoking tracks that make Blame the Young a well-rounded album giving an outlook on life in the modern world from the band’s own experiences and perspective.
It's been a hot minute since October Drift's last album, 'I Don't Belong Anywhere,' and the South West's finest have come a long way since then. The 2022 release was written and recorded during lockdown, which, in the band's own words, gave the album "that claustrophobic and isolated feel to it." In contrast, October Drift's brand new album 'Blame the Young' feels far from claustrophobic. In complete contrast, there is a very relaxed feel to the album, October Drift have definitely benefitted from the open spaces of the Somerset Levels where they recorded the new album.
The band are a tightly knit unit who have been writing and recording together since they were teenagers, 'Blame the Young' reflects the band's shared experiences growing up and has a real depth to the album thanks to the bonds that they have formed over the years. It's not a departure from the October Drift of times gone by but a maturing of their sound. They have created a really well-rounded record that is full of expression, emotion, and energy. There are some real bangers in there that will definitely get the crowd moving at live shows. 'Don't Care' and 'Nothing Makes Me Feel (The Way You Do)' are two that spring to mind.
If you have heard October Drift before, then you will not be disappointed with 'Blame the Young,' and if this is your first encounter with their music, this album is a great starting point for your October Drift journey. Whichever you are, 'Blame the Young' is an album that is sure to hit your music senses in all the right places.
The band are a tightly knit unit who have been writing and recording together since they were teenagers, 'Blame the Young' reflects the band's shared experiences growing up and has a real depth to the album thanks to the bonds that they have formed over the years. It's not a departure from the October Drift of times gone by but a maturing of their sound. They have created a really well-rounded record that is full of expression, emotion, and energy. There are some real bangers in there that will definitely get the crowd moving at live shows. 'Don't Care' and 'Nothing Makes Me Feel (The Way You Do)' are two that spring to mind.
If you have heard October Drift before, then you will not be disappointed with 'Blame the Young,' and if this is your first encounter with their music, this album is a great starting point for your October Drift journey. Whichever you are, 'Blame the Young' is an album that is sure to hit your music senses in all the right places.