Review by Josh Felty
Rating: *****
Every decade there seems to be a prevalent sound in the vein of rock that redefines everything. When I was growing up, I saw the not-so-smooth transition from the hair metal of the 80's to the darker sounds of Seattle and the grunge movement of the 90's. It seems after Cobain's death, far too many groups have pushed to capitalize on "the Seattle sound". Some more coherently than others. I really appreciated (still do, as a matter of fact) a lot of Bush's music; even though when they first came out, it was clear they were carbon copies of what Nirvana set out and accomplished. Pre-packaged, pre-defined, yet infectious all the same.
What I appreciated about Black Water Rising's self-titled release is that it manages to combine that roaring grunge sound while harkening back to some of the early 80's greatest rock. Guitar riffs careen into the occasional guitar solo, again, something that is more than welcome nowadays. It was once thought the solo was a dead staple of rock. Not with Black Water Rising, whom we can thank for allowing the songs time to breathe.
Though everything else along the ride of this album is just as starkly beautiful.
The vocalist almost reminds me of Chris Cornell, in a great way. The song "Brother Go On" rhythmically thumps with the visual sensation of fists pumping into the air, an anthem in its own right. The swinging beat of the verses in "Hate Machine" contrasts with its immensely hooky political messages. For example, the opener "The Mirror" admonishes after its explosive introduction 'In this world of mass confusion/It's hard to make much sense/You can place the blame on others/as you build your weak defense', prompting us to look first at the face in the mirror before any wide social change can take place. "Black Bleeds Through", clearly channeling that Soundgarden/Rage Against the Machine vibe, echoes with sweet sweet aggression. And all of this is done with minimal 'growling', yet plenty of hearty screaming, which is always welcome. "Halos" openly challenges the religious elite and those "holier than thou" amidst our ranks. "Living Proof"=instant mosh pit, head-banging action and an example of the kind of screaming I love wholeheartedly. It was safe to say I'm quite impressed by this record; nothing else out there lately has balls-to-the-wall wailed as this one.
I don't think I'm discrediting the sound of this group by making comparisons to Cornell or Rage; that own combination, Audioslave, was perhaps the most epic mash-up of rock forces of all time. There have been a few others, Down (whose influence can be gleaned from some parts) and Them Crooked Vultures, but what's amazing about Black Water Rising is they're completely in a class of their own. And that's not an overstatement. The recording quality is top-notch, bringing out the immensity in the guitars and the elevating vocals. This album flat out rocks, good people, definitely deserving of our highest rating.
I recommend this to anyone out on a late-night cruise or off-roading adventure, as the unyielding rhythms and riff action will more than knock your socks off.
It will keep the neighbors up all night...and for that alone, it's more than worth the listen!