Raven Black
A few years ago I went to a local venue (bar at a bowling alley) for a psycho stick show which was a freaking blast btw. They had many guest bands open for them, and Raven Black was one of them, and frankly I was blown away. Went and met them over at the merch booth, and now I rep then wherever I wear my mask. So how is their new album, let’s go ahead and give it a listen, and here we go
Mirror Mirror
Atmospheric opening, always a favorite here. Have a darker take on the classic mirror mirror on the wall. Goes on into
Hear me Cry
Raven shows her lovely singing voice here. The clean guitars have a taste of System of a Down. The chorus is strait forward but sounds great, and adds in Ravens screams the second time round. The bridge is heavy as hell evolving into a twisted doll chant. If you like black metal then the second half of this song is for you
Darkest Pit
Heavy riff time yaaaaay. Heavy song overall. They have really stepped up their musicality since I first heard them. That stuff was great but this is next level on its layers. This is some solid metal on display so far. There’s some great little harmonies underneath if you listen closely
He is the one
I didn’t originally love their music for riffs, as they weren’t really riff heavy, this album is changing that. You can tell when Raven goes into her Doll persona and when that harmonizes with scream it sounds awesome. They still haven’t turned off the heavy as this song continues to maintain it. The final run cranks that up and just, yes, very yes
My Demons
The guitar tone has a slight shift and it works with the shift in overall song shift.
The drumming in this one actually takes the forefront for me, it has great little bass gallops in the chorus. There appears to be more fills here too. For the first time in a while we have a clean sections and it’s lovely while it lasts as it served to build into a death metal surge, fits the songs subject matter perfectly
The Key
It’s an interlude
Risen from the ashes
Doom time? intro, yes, then it’s Slipknot time for the main riff and it kicks ass. There music shifts through multiple metal genres but manages to never lose you as it maintains their own personal flair. Someone also let the piggies out to play. There’s a lot goin on here but it all kicks ass
5 feet underground
Someone needs a ruler. The flow, and groove in this song is the best so far, by a wide margin. This is the perfect song to kick of the month of Halloween. Halloween haunt, I need you. This song could serve as a great Halloween anthem
Carnival
Carrying the theme over from the past song. Drums, vocals, guitar, bass, it is all on point here. Hearing that classic carnival melody in metal is amazing. Pretty much every note in 5 feet underground applies to this song as they are connected. So damn good
We are the rejects
They really don’t wanna let up do they. It’s heavy as hell then eeeeeeeeer it takes a huge twist and it’s again, awesome. Bass driven distorted groove time, complete with snaps. Thanos approved. They have really cranked up the groove in the second half of the album. And just like that they kick back in the doom. Also, there’s a dr speech here, and it’s hilarious
In the silence
Very ominous piano, and vocals, me like.I did not expect this, and it’s absolutely stunning. We have the close your eyes and feel it moment of the album. Beautiful way to close out the album.
I needed this, new raven black is needed in these times. When I first them years ago they helped me out of a rut, and they continue to do so. This album is definitely Most excellent and if you are a metal fan I emplore you "you implore me?" To check them out just do it, ok, take care
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