BLACK STONE CHERRY deliver music that is like a refreshing vitamin kick. They play thick riffs and have a rich sound, performed in a straightforward way, which is characteristic for the band. Over the years, they have released seven studio albums, two EPs and one live material, all of which have been more or less praised. Blues is an inspiration. In their Hard Rock you hear these influences, where everything is blended into a nice mix and own style. Now it is time for their eighth full-length, ”Screamin’ At The Sky”.
The group was formed in 2001. The self-titled, awesome debut album came in 2006. The record contained a nice mix of Heavy Metal and Blues Rock. From there we got songs like “Rain Wizard” and “Backwoods Gold”. On the sequel “Folklore And Superstition” (2008) they landed in their Blues Rock and the disc occasionally had a calmer tempo, with as many as three ballads. I and many others discovered the band through their third record, “Between The Devil & The Deep Blue Sea” (2011). It is wider in terms of genre, everything from heavier Rock to Pop Rock. Despite its more commercial style, it is a very good and appreciated album, which gave us the outstanding hits “White Trash Millionaire” and “Blame It On The Boom Boom”. You can not always maintain a high standard and according to me came a small downturn with “Magic Mountain” (2014). Except “Me And Mary Jane”, which stands out from the others because it is so good, the rest of the material was both messy and flat. BSC recovered on ”Kentucky” (2016), when they also began to produce their own work. ”Family Tree” (2018) is a great album with wonderful Blues Rock. In my opinion one of their best creations. “The Human Condition” (2020) went back to how they once began, with a heavier style. The group has also made a couple of EPs, with pure Blues, containing covers of their own Blues idols. Both, especially ”Black To Blues 2” (2019), are extremely good. Not to mention the DVD/CD ”Live From The Royal Albert Hall…Y’All!” from last year, which is absolutely fantastic. In the middle of 2021, bassist Jon Lawhon decided to take a pause for an indefinite period of time from music and touring. The replacement was Steve Jewell, who appeared on the live material.
Now on to their new work, which opens with the title track. It is Heavy, with a touch of Blues and a melodic chorus. The music slides in, the volume increases and John Fred Young’s powerful drumming is heard, as well as the fat guitar sound that characterizes BLACK STONE CHERRY. Jewell’s bass tones are played with feeling and skill, for example in “Out Of Pocket”. The song also contains light, bouncing drumbeats in the verses, which then burst out with strength and energy, like the rest of the music.
“R.O.A.R” is a fantastic piece. The first thought of a roaring scream and an extremely Heavy song, turned out to be something else. It is a harmonious Hard Rock song in a medium tempo, filled with warmth and emotions. The title is a shortening of “Raindrops On A Rose”. My favorite is another of a few midtempo tunes, called ”Here’s To The Hopeless”. It is also filled with emotions and we hear an excellent guitarplaying. The disc does not contain any slow songs. Everything rolls on in a nice flow.
The band’s music has energy and heaviness, a groovy, cool attitude and musical joy, plus a big drum sound with a wonderful rhythm. Chris Robertson’s clear voice with a raspy edge is phenomenal. It can be very powerful, but sometimes also vibrantingly emotional. The bassist Steve has grown into the group in a natural way. In 2022, as I mentioned, we could see him in action on the live material, but this is Jewell’s first studio album as a member of BSC and his playing impresses.
The music rocks and rolls. The Hard Rock songs are performed in BLACK STONE CHERRY’s typical bluesy, Southern Rock way. It feels like the guys have taken the best ingredients from all their previous materials and put it into this superb production. ”Screamin’ At The Sky” is incredibly good. The album may well be their very best. It will stand the test of time and become a classic. (Anna)
Bewertung:
9,5 / 10
Anzahl der Songs: 12
Spielzeit: 39:51 min
Label: Mascot Records
Veröffentlichungstermin: 29.09.2023
