Release
date: October 06th 2017. Label: DHU Records/BloodRock Records.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Black
Road – S/T – Tracklisting
1.From
Hell 08:01
2.Bloody
Mary 04:16
3.Morte
03:54
4.Morte
(coda) 03:00
5.Red
05:41
6.Black
Rose 10:22
Members
Vocals/Lyrics/Piano:
Suzi Uzi
Guitars:
Tim M.
Bass:
Casey Papp
Drums:
Robert Gonzales
Mellotron
[Track 4 "Morte (coda)"]: Tony Reed (Mos Generator)
Review
Stoner/Doom
Rockers Black Road debut EP is superbly written and well focused
record that focuses mostly on lead singer Suzi Uzi's powerful soulful
blues based vocals. The remainder of the band provide excellent riffs
for Suzi's vocals to heard by the Doom/Stoner Rock masses. This is an
expertly produced record and one that plays to Black Road's
strengths.
Tim
on guitars duties provides some epic Thin Lizzy style guitars on the
opening track – From Hell. Which runs for about 8 minutes or so.
The song should suffer from an identity crisis as the band play many
different elements of Hard Rock/Heavy Metal in this song. Though to
Black Road's credit they create a song that's full of different
grooves such as Stoner, Doom, Psych, Classic Rock, Blues Rock and
even a twinge of Folk Rock. The song is very gloomy and perhaps is
influenced mostly by the sounds of 70s Stadium Rock.
Second
track – Bloody Mary – operates with a more straight forward doom
and gloom atmosphere with the band channelling bands such as Black
Sabbath and Fleetwood Mac. The sound is quite progressive at times
and Suzi's classy vocals make you fall under their undeniable
hypnotic spell.
Third
track – Morte – is perhaps the weakest track on the EP. It
doesn't really go anywhere. It's a slowly played piano piece that
almost wipes out the good work the band started with the excellent
two opening tracks. I give the band credit for creating something
atmospheric and quite gloomy in places.
Fourth
track – Morte (Coda) – is an almost exact copy of the previous
track but somehow this version actually works better and allows Black
Road to get themselves back in the game. Groovy played and creepy
guitars keep you interested until the very end.
The
final two tracks – Red and Black Rose – allows Black Road to
focus on their primary Doom/Stoner Rock sound. There's a delicious
FUZZ based guitar riff lurking on Red that almost manage to put
Suzi's vocals out of the spotlight. I said almost....
The
final track – Black Rose – is perhaps the standout song here. As
it's beautifully played in two parts or chapters. The first part is a
semi-acoustic guitar driven sound that shows you a different side to
Black Road. Tender and quite emotional in places. The second part
sees Black Road perform a heavier Doom/Stoner Rock sound as the EP
ends on a high. Very psychedelic and occult rock especially with the
lyrics and vocals.
Despite
one “so-so” song, Black Road have released a haunting debut EP
and one that will see their profile rise dramatically within the
Doom/Stoner Rock community.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words
by Steve Howe
