Monday 1 October 2012

New to EH - Blackwater Revue





It’s long been a personal theory of mine that music is ‘moodal’. And no, that has nothing to do with cows learning to play Aeolian or Mixolydian modes. Rather that different genres of music or even specific artists are more appealing when you’re in a specific mood. This is why music taste is so personal to the individual, because we all respond to mood and thus musical stimuli differently.

It just so happened that when asked to review Blackwater Revue, their sound fitted perfectly within my musical requirements for just that point in time. Slotted neatly somewhere between the end of Heavy Rock, and the more enjoyable side of metal, i.e. the bit before people start screaming and giving me a damn headache, Blackwater Revue are a band built upon the old tradition of rocking the hell out at any given moment and melting your face off with pure rock awesomeness. For which, I salute them!

People may say that rock is dead, but listening to the first track these guys have released up on the net, I’m really hoping that’s from people not looking hard enough. In the form of Hold On To Your Love, the spirit of British heavy rock is still very much alive and kicking. The classic combination is on full display here; tasty riffage, hefty guitar tones and vocals that sound like singing through gravel (it’s just so gritty!). Overall, their sound kind of reminds me of a mix of elements from bands like Black Stone Cherry, Black Label Society and Black Sabbath. A whole lot of black. A heart full even...

Hold Onto Your Love has all the elements of great rock track, that catchy guitar riff, a call and response title chorus, four to the floor drums with subtle hints of endless complexity and technicality in the fills, and a bass that will sonically make your gizzards rumble and then kick your teeth in!

I really hope these guys go on to do great things, because there is more musical talent in about two seconds of this song than an entire series of X-factor Dancing Idol with Voice type rubbish. Rock isn’t dead, it never died. But even if it’s just been comatose for a little while, my money’s on Blackwater Revue to wake it back up again. Turn that guitar tone all the way up to 11.... that should do the trick!

Blackwater Revue are currently embarking on lots and lots of gigs to get their sound out there. These chaps are most certainly worth checking out live, so keep an eye on their Reverbnation page, or keep it locked right here to Electric Harmony for latest gig news!    

Review by Paul Barnes




Check out Blackwater Revue!

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