Fantasies of a Stay at Home Psychopath

The Blinders

Punchy, gritty, and a whirlwind of sound that will swallow you whole and then spit you out. Fantasies Of A Stay At Home  Psychopath is the kind of album that if it could, would smile at you with jagged teeth and say ‘What, these things, you don’t have to worry about them….yet.’ From its opening track Something Wicked This Way Comes to its closing song In This Decade, Doncaster natives The Blinders execute a confidently crafted piece of musical monologue which speak out on highly prominent topics such as mental health, social injustice, and the current political state of the world.

Nowhere is this final point more prevalent than in Lunatic With A Loaded Gun. Even someone with the loosest grasp on the current social landscape would have no problem in hearing the bands message. ‘He says what he must, to gain your trust’ a simple line that can be connected to so many people in the current political sphere. Underpinning this message is an urgent and guitar driven sound that enhance the powerful delivery of the lyrics.

In contrast to this, the following track drops gears and becomes a more, almost blues track, reminiscent of Led Zepplin’s ‘Since I’ve Been Lovin’ You’. Alongside this drop in tempo, lyrically the track takes a more introspective look at the sort of self doubt and social struggles we as people go through and the way in which words can have a huge effect on people. ‘….The pen is the sword….’ and ‘….if not for Bowie, who’d know about the Norfolk broads….’ are just two lines of simple, yet relatable imagery that reinforce their message.

As the album moves on their messaging and passion never fall short, but simply fluctuate in sound and tempo, while still maintaining the bands essence at all times. This is helped by the brilliant production and recording work done by Rob Ellis at Eve Studios, Manchester. Through a confident mix of loose compression and simply allowing the earthy grit of the songs to come through as natural as possible, Rob helps the band forge the sound and feel of the album. 

Another element to this albums sustained energy is the vocal performance by Thomas Haywood. Each song is delivered with an outright purpose and the use of a slight crackle on the microphone adds to the overall feel of raw, unfiltered Alternative Rock. One track however where his voice really stands out for me, isn’t one where he is singing, but instead on the track simply called, Interlude.

Delivered as a monologue over what can only be described as dark Jazz, Thomas speaks in a deliberate manor, his voice perfectly hitting the right inflections and carrying just the right amount of menace, meaning you could imagine it being a voice inside your own head whispering dark thoughts to you. Couple this with the mix of piano, brush played symbols, and an eerie guitar/synth line, this short track manages to chill you and fully encapsulates the title of the album. 

Continuing on from this point the album takes on a more punchy rock edging with tracks like Rage At The Dying Of The Light, and their latest single from the album Black Glass. Each track seeming to tie together all the elements of the band into a steady, yet powerful run towards the finish. 

Speaking of the finish, the final track In This Decade completely takes you by surprise as it features Thomas and his acoustic guitar performing a song fit for Bob Dylan. Not only does this track contrast with the entirety of what’s come before it in its simplicity, but it truly highlights the songwriting ability and power of the band to be able to wrap up their album with such an open, stripped back song. It really speaks to this bands ability to captivate you no matter what they’re performing, enticing you into enjoying a solo performance just as much as you’ve enjoyed the full force of a full band recording.

Overall this album is a well crafted and carefully put together offering from this band who seem to be moving ever upwards and seem to only increase in confidence and ability with each passing year. Considering this is their second studio album, it is clear that The Blinders have truly found a groove that works and aren’t afraid to push the limits of what they can achieve musically.

Album Artwork Photography by Sam Crowton