Black Rain album review
If you don’t know who Black Rain are yet, you’ve been living under a rock. The self described ‘too goth to be punk, too punk to be goth’ band has taken the Sunderland music scene by storm with their gritty, post-punk sound and infectious tunes, and we’ve been lucky enough to get early access to their debut album.
Right off the bat, you can tell these guys don’t play about. The first track, Inside, starts off with a hefty dose of pure power that shows straight away that Black Rain mean business. This keeps you gripped through the first five studio recordings, leading into the second half of the album, the live tracks, all recorded at The Bunker.
Satanists is a stand-out for me. While not a political album by any means, the track is charged with a ferocious frustration at the current climate. ‘Those who represent us, there’s blood on all their hands… satanists preying on your soul’, is a classically punk take on the state of the world that can lend itself to the past and present.
The three piece, made up of vocalist/guitarist Josh, bassist Scott, and drummer Mick, are clearly talented players, and their genuine love for music and creating shines through in the album. The lads have shown appreciation for certain styles and bands throughout, but by no means have they tried to copy any of it, or be something that already exists; they are sitting quite firmly in their own, curated category entirely, with no imitation.
Pure killer, no filler. Nothing is lost in any of the tracks and the band has made sure that every aspect is important and has it’s place; this is what captivates and holds the listeners attention so powerfully. The riffs flow into themselves and the heavy delays and reverb adds to a particularly haunting edge.
The live tracks are spectacularly impressive, as not a note is out of place; and listeners would be forgiven for thinking the whole album was a studio recording. These guys could never be accused of being lazy, and they managed to keep up their individual energy throughout. Props also has to be given to producer Phil Jackson who perfectly captured the bands vision and sound throughout all nine tracks.
Black Rain deliver a timeless testament to the post-punk movement. They didn’t just reach the target they set out to achieve, they surpassed it, and Sunderland should feel extremely lucky to have this band emerging from the city.
Their debut album is out on July 14th, and you can catch them at Diego’s on 26/7, The Fire Station on 26/9, and the Whitby Goth Festival on 1/11.
@the_black_rain_band
