Blackout (Hed PE album)

Last updated

Blackout
Blackout cover.jpg
Studio album by
Hed PE
ReleasedMarch 18, 2003
Recorded2002
StudioThe Machine Shop, Hoboken, New Jersey / Studio West, San Diego, California / Cello Studios, Hollywood, California / Chunky Style Music, Los Angeles, California / NRG Recording Services, North Hollywood, California
Genre
Length49:46
Label
Producer
Hed PE chronology
Broke
(2000)		Blackout
(2003)		 Only in Amerika
(2004)
Singles from Blackout
  1. "Blackout"
    Released: February 4, 2003
  2. "Other Side"
    Released: June 17, 2003

Blackout is the third studio album by American rock band Hed PE. Released on March 18, 2003, Blackout peaked at number 33 on the Billboard 200, selling 28,000 copies in its first week, [3] while its title track peaked at number 21 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and at number 32 on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart. [4] A second single, "Other Side", peaked at number 40 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. [5] The album also peaked at number 102 in the United Kingdom. [6] The song "Get Away" is featured in NASCAR Thunder 2003 produced by EA Sports. Sonny Mayo is credited playing guitar, but didn't play according to an interview with Good Company. This is the last release by the band to have two Guitarists, after Chizad quit in 2002.

Contents

Production

Jared Gomes later reflected unfavorably on the album's production, claiming that the label was trying to achieve commercial success by forcing a nu metal sound. [7] Gomes stated in 2011, "all my decisions were being overlooked by the record company I was under when producing it… causing me to hold back on things, change song structures and all other kinds of shit in order to try and get into the radio friendly scene to fit in with the nu-metal movement… and as I complied I grew to dislike what I was becoming." [7] Eventually, Gomes said, he would try to make the band's next album, Only in Amerika as uncommercial as possible, to provoke people lyrically as a backlash against the more commercial sound of Blackout. [7]

Music and lyrics

The music in Blackout shows a huge shift in the bands sound in comparison to previous two albums. It includes much more singing and a lot less rapping, going for a more mainstream-friendly sound. Jahred’s lyrics on the album reflect a dark time after the success of “Broke” when he battled severe depression. [8]

Beatdust described the band as "becoming another Limp Bizkit clone" with Broke and Blackout , which were recorded to pay back the losses owed to the label to recoup the commercial failure of the band's 1997 self-titled debut album. [9]

Release and promotion

The album was released on march 18, 2003 by Jive records on CD and Cassette [3]

Singles

The album's title track was released as the lead single from the album on february 4, 2003. The song saw some success on the charts, peaking at #21 on the Mainstream Rock chart and at #32 on Modern Rock Tracks chart. [4] It was reported that the single was downloaded 50,000 times from the band's website. [8] The music video for the song was also produced. The song "Other Side" was released as the second single and it peaked at #40 on the Modern rock tracks chart. [5]

Touring

The band toured United States to promote the album. The band started with co-headlining the spring edition of the Jägermeister Music Tour with Saliva. The band then toured in support of Godsmack, as well as headlining tours with bands like Nonpoint and Noise Ratchet opening for them. They also played some big festivals in United States, most notable being Summerfest. [4]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Melodic.net Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [2]

Reception

Allmusic's Johnny Loftus wrote that "While it expands on melodic elements that had previously played a supporting role in the band's sound, Blackout also delivers truckloads of crushing guitar and pounding rhythm. And whether or not it is the presence of a top-line producer, (hed) pe have figured out a way to imbue their aggressive mix of heavy rock and hip-hop with some serious hooks." [10]

Commercial performance

Blackout peaked at #33 on the Billboard 200, selling 28,000 copies in its first week of release, making it the band's highest position on the chart. [3] The album also peaked at #58 in Australia and #102 in UK. [6] [11]

The songs from the album appeared on couple of EA Sports titles. The title track was used in the video game MVP Baseball 2003. The song "Suck it Up" was used in Madden NFL 2003 and the song "Get Away" was used in NASCAR Thunder 2003 [8]

Track listing

Blackout
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Suck it Up" (used in the EA Sports video game Madden NFL 2003 )Jahred; Mawk3:56
2."Bury Me"Jahred; Mawk3:05
3."Dangerous"Chad; Jahred; Wes3:26
4."Blackout" (used in the EA Sports video game MVP Baseball 2003 )Jahred3:53
5."Get Away" (used in the EA Sports video game NASCAR Thunder 2003 )Jahred; Mawk3:18
6."Crazy Life"B.C.; Chad; Dj Product; Jahred; Mawk; Wes3:43
7."Half the Man"Chad; Jahred; Wes4:42
8."The Only One"B.C.; Chad; DJ Product; Jahred; Mawk; Wes3:33
9."Other Side"Jahred; Mawk3:36
10."Flesh and Bone"B.C.; DJ Product; Jahred; Mawk; Wes3:48
11."Octopussy"Wes0:44
12."Carnivale"Jahred; Wes3:59
13."Fallen"Jahred; Wes4:01
14."Revelations"Jahred; Wes4:10
Total length:49:46
UK & Japanese Bonus Track
No.TitleLength
15."Dracula"4:13

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2003)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [12] 58
UK Albums (OCC) [13] 102
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [14] 9
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [15] 14
US Billboard 200 [16] 33

References

  1. ↑ "Vote for the greatest nu metal album of all-time". March 4, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Melodic.net review
  3. 1 2 3 "50 Cent Still on Top". Rolling Stone . March 26, 2003.
  4. 1 2 3 "Charts and awards for Blackout". Allmusic . Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  5. 1 2 American singles chart [ permanent dead link ]
  6. 1 2 Zobbel.de - Search within 'H' section
  7. 1 2 3 Dillinger, Moses (January 24, 2011). "(HED) P.e". Beat Magazine. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 Staff, Billboard (April 4, 2003). "Demons Are The Reason For (hed) pe's 'Blackout'". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Mixed Media Slang: (Hed) PE Self Titled (1997) | BEATDUST". Archived from the original on December 20, 2017. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  10. 1 2 AllMusic review
  11. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 127.
  12. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Hed PE – Blackout". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  13. ↑ "(HED) PLANET EARTH | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Hed PE Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
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