ALBUM REVIEW: River Black - "River Black"

By: Mark Tremblay

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 17/07/2017

Label: Season of Mist

River Black’s self-titled release picks up right where Burnt by the Sun’s “Heart of Darkness” left off, the riffs and instrumentation are crushing, as well as vocalist Mike Olender being the best he has ever been, For anyone who enjoys Metal and hardcore at its finest will find this record to be of their choosing.

“River Black” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Jaws
2. Honor
3. Low
4. Shipwreck
5. River Black
6. South x South
7. Boat
8. Move
9. #Victim
10. Haunt
11. Sink
12. Everywhere

The Review:

River Black’s self-titled release picks up right where Burnt by the Sun’s “Heart of Darkness” left off in ways that are both impressive and terrifying. The positives are that the riffs and instrumentation are crushing, as well as vocalist Mike Olender being the best he has ever been. The terrifying element is that the lyrical continuity between “Heart of Darkness” and “River Black” indicates the human condition has only grown worse in the band’s absence. Fans of Burnt by the Sun will not only welcome this new record, but also be blown away by the progression of River Black’s sound.  

The album gets off to a pummelling start from the get-go with “Jaws” and “Low” are riff-oriented tracks very reminiscent of the “Soundtrack to the Personal Evolution” era of Burnt by the Sun. The album takes a turn in the middle with the self titled track and “South x South”. These songs show a more matured band exercising restraint and understanding the best qualities of their sound. It is the little things that make such an impact; particularly with the double kick pattern and the string arrangements on “South x South”, you see the growth still capable within this band. As mentioned previously, Mike Olender’s vocals are nothing short of spectacular. With “River Black”, the listener really gets the sense of a man who has had many life experiences between his studio albums. Particularly with songs like “Haunt” and “#Victim”, you get the sense Mike is not only a seasoned lyricist, but has completely mastered his craft as a metal vocalist.

For anyone who enjoys Metal and hardcore at its finest will find this record to be of their choosing.

“River Black” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

Reproacher - "Nature's Bastard" (Album Review)

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 03/06/2016
Label: Crown & Throne Ltd

Huge, awkward riffs dominate the landscape, their ugly, discordant racket is reminiscent of Converge at their nastiest.  This is a mighty offering, a captivating combination of savage intensity and considered dynamics.

“Nature’s Bastard” DD//LP track listing:

1). Intro

2). Celestial Blackout

3). Poisonous Miasmas

4). Garotte

5). Sundown

6). The Endless Tide

7). Futility

8). Old Blue Clay

9). Nature’s Bastard

10). The Great Equalizer

The Review:

“Celestial Blackout”, the second track of Reproacher’s new LP “Nature’s Bastard”, provides an apt description of the widescreen carnage they deliver. The track roars into life out of the smouldering ashes of “Intro”, a perfect hybrid of brooding post metal and furious, Hydra Head-style noisecore. The Wyoming bruisers mine this seam of inspiration for untold riches over the course of the album to create their distinct visceral sound.

Reproacher’s music is based on a solid foundation of gnarly noise rock heaviness but the tone shifts as the record progresses. The opening double whammy gives way to the harder edged likes of “Poisonous Miasmas” and “Garrote”. Huge, awkward riffs dominate the landscape, teeth-shaking low end and piercing high end squalls combining to emulate the punishing broken grooves of Coalesce. The tempo increases during the album’s mid-section dominated by the furious d-beat of “Sundown”. The ugly, discordant racket is reminiscent of Converge at their nastiest and peaks with a wild, adrenaline-soaked lead guitar break.

As the end approaches, the mood darkens. The title track is the closest Reproacher get to something resembling a ballad. Although the volume is dialled back and the vocals are subdued to a faraway, half-spoken drawl, the slow-burning menace exuded here is as heavy as their full-on attack. This makes the bludgeoning climax all the more crushing when it finally arrives with grim inevitability. “The Great Equalizer” continues this trajectory, falling away to near silence in the middle and building to a powerfully restrained climax, woozy chords ringing out as the band grind to a halt like a drunken cowboy.

“Nature’s Bastard” is a mighty offering from Reproacher, a captivating combination of savage intensity and considered dynamics.  

“Nature’s Bastard” is available here

Band info: bandcamp