Review: Blank Xpression

Next up is the new album Living in the 1980's from Guildford's own Blank Xpression.

Blank Xpression were no strangers to the music scene during the early 1980's. Between 1980 and 1982 they established themselves as one of the most exciting bands around, releasing a demo produced by none other than Phil Collins, with drummer Stuart Barnett even using the iconic drum kit heard on In The Air Tonight. They also earned the coveted role of Special Guests on The Jam's Trans Global Express Tour.

Fast forward to 2026 and, rather than simply looking backwards, Blank Xpression have created an album that celebrates their roots while sounding remarkably relevant today.

Opening track New World eases itself into life with an emotive guitar line that creates an almost serene tranquillity before everything changes. Fist-in-the-air power chords crash in and suddenly the whole band erupts together.

From the outset, Blank Xpression demonstrate an impressive ability to blend influences. Hard rock, new wave, gothic undertones, new romantic textures and even flashes of metal all coexist naturally without ever feeling forced.

Lyrically, the song delivers a powerful social commentary that feels incredibly timely in 2026. There is an underlying darkness running throughout that gives the track even greater urgency and impact.

The title track, Living in the 1980's, immediately flexes the band's punk credentials. The pace increases dramatically while the vocal remains the anchor, delivering an instantly memorable melody packed with genuine authenticity.

There are obvious nods to the decade referenced in the title, but rather than becoming an exercise in nostalgia, the band reshape those influences into something fresh and contemporary. The chant-along chorus lands with real force, while the final drop into the closing refrain is guaranteed to have audiences clapping and singing along.

Powerful, melodic and carrying just enough sinister edge to stop it becoming predictable.

Stranger slows the pace slightly without sacrificing any of the intensity. Here the band showcase their pop sensibilities, delivering one of the album's finest vocal performances.

Full of swagger, emotion and genuine passion, this feels like a song that deserves daytime radio airplay if the world were a fair place. The darker undercurrents remain, but they are wrapped inside an incredibly accessible arrangement.

The guitar work intertwines beautifully with the vocal, adding another emotional layer to a song that rises, falls and twists like a rollercoaster before reaching its satisfying conclusion.

Then comes Teenage Fantasy, which injects another healthy dose of swagger into proceedings. The chugging bass and guitar build patiently before exploding into a huge chorus that simply screams live anthem.

The vocal somehow combines David Bowie's eccentricity, Mick Jagger's swagger and Johnny Rotten's attack without ever sounding like imitation.

Once again, Blank Xpression prove they understand exactly how to write a memorable chorus, while the darker, more message-driven verses provide the perfect contrast.

Another huge track.

Curiously titled This Is Not A Cat, the next song opens with a burst of glorious chaos that Kurt Cobain himself would probably have appreciated before settling into an infectious groove built around soaring lead guitar and darker verses.

It is another song that immediately feels tailor-made for the live stage.

The hooks throughout are exceptional and the guitar constantly plays against the vocal melody to create wonderful tension. By the second chorus you'll somehow find yourself enthusiastically singing "This Is Not A Cat" without questioning why.

Special mention also goes to one of the finest guitar solos we've heard this year. Emotional, passionate and never overplayed, every single note feels earned.

We Want More follows with a far more straightforward punk attack that arrives at exactly the right point in the album. Once again, the huge "We Want More" refrain makes participation almost compulsory.

This feels like genuine protest music - something that has become increasingly rare in 2026.

Problems shifts things towards a more modern punk sound while continuing to blend influences from the band's past. It is a short, sharp blast of anger and frustration aimed squarely at the modern world.

Our only complaint?

We simply wish it lasted longer.

My Generation arrives with an almost disco-inspired drum beat before restrained guitars gradually emerge. The message is perhaps the strongest on the album, with the verse bordering on spoken word before blossoming into beautiful harmonies that add surprising warmth.

The quiet/loud dynamic works brilliantly here, although not in the traditional sense. Instead of relying purely on volume, Blank Xpression contrast thoughtful social commentary with some of their most harmonious and uplifting vocal arrangements.

Their political observations are obvious without becoming heavy-handed, making the message all the more effective.

Like Me crashes in immediately with a staggered riff while powerful drumming keeps everything firmly on course. There are hints of classic American 80's pop buried within the arrangement, but as always Blank Xpression coat everything in their own darker, slightly twisted identity.

The song overflows with ideas that evolve naturally throughout, while the beautifully melodic guitar solo provides the perfect counterbalance to the more reflective lyrical themes.

Another incredibly catchy track.

The album closes with It's Not Right, bursting from the speakers with superb harmonised vocals and a drum performance powerful enough to make Dave Grohl smile.

The band continue taking risks by introducing layered samples and subtle electronic textures, adding both immediacy and controlled chaos to an already powerful song.

Every twist feels deliberate. Every idea serves a purpose.

It is a fitting conclusion to an album that refuses to stand still.

Living in the 1980's may wear its influences proudly, but this is no nostalgia trip. Blank Xpression have taken everything that made the golden era of new wave and punk exciting and infused it with modern production, contemporary songwriting and a message that feels remarkably relevant today. The result is an album packed with huge choruses, thoughtful lyrics, fearless experimentation and enough hooks to keep you coming back for more.

Some bands live in the past. Blank Xpression prove you can live in the 1980's while sounding completely at home in 2026. Far from drawing a blank, this album is full of expression.

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