Thrusting Welsh newbie hard-rockers play by the numbers.

Keen to seize the day right from the off in 2013 are Merthyr Tydfil’s bright new hopes The Blackout, rather strenuously imploring we join them and get into the kind of spirit that landed some of us with mysterious bruises and a mighty headache on New Year’s Day.

Employing the well-used combo of pop structures, catchy melodies, heart-on-sleeve lyrics, the odd dollop of screamo and fat-maggot guitar riffs, Start The Party turns in a surprisingly sustained set.

It’s not breaking any moulds, but the requisite ingredients are here, while touches like the title track’s cheerleader girls and Sleep When You’re Dead’s anthemic singalong are appealingly sticky.

Lovers of the hard-ass riffing, buzzsaw guitars and anguish of Lostprophets, early Foo Fighters, Papa Roach and A will find it familiar.

But for a new generation of angsty, lovestruck teens, Gavin Butler’s accessible mid-Atlantic vocals and this clutch of fist-pumping tunes could turn The Blackout into stars.

3 stars