Texas, such a small word for a place with a reputation for being BIG in everything. Given that reputation it comes as no surprise that Texas based bands working in the arena's of metal. stoner and doom will often possess a BIG sound and Fort Worth's Black on High are no exception to that rule. The band, Nick Forkel (guitars/vocals); Chris Mullins (guitar); Brian McCoy (bass) and Ben Harwood (drums), make a sound totally in keeping with their states reputation, a sound that blends together elements of stoner rock, sludge, doom and alt-metal while still maintaining the levels of swing and groove that can pull in listeners brought up on a more mainstream rock diet. The band have just released their new album "Echoes Through Time" and it's a keeper.
"Alleyway Ecstasy" kicks things off with thick low bass and guitars jamming grunge flavoured refrains over meaty drum patterns with the accompanying vocals sporting similar grungy and slurred dynamics the result of which is a sound a little closer to the post alt-metal of early Bush rather than any of the Seattle based bands of the mid 80's, nevertheless its an impressive start. Black on High's stoner and doom credentials get an airing for next track "I Feel Lethal" the band channelling a little Sasquatch like proto-doom in their attack but tempering that attack with some nice moments of light and shade. "She Was a Witch" follows, a swaggering mix of stoner metal and proto-doom that sees an element of sludge-like harshness creeping into its vocals. "Slow and Low" seems quite an unusual title for a song that is tuned not particularly low and, apart from a brief mid-section passage, is not what you would describe as slow, however that does not stop this from being an absolute banger of a tune. Next song "Leave You" again boasts vocal dynamics that carry an air of grunginess about them but this time those vocals are coupled with a groove that is pure in your face stoner metal and features incendiary performances from all concerned. Black on High mix up their stoner metal, alt-metal and sludge with a little punk(ish) aggression for the galloping "Take These Pills" then decorate the results with guitar solo's that are a blend of 70's feel and present day shredding. Last track/title track "Echoes Through Time" finds Black on High getting atmospheric, and in places, a little bluesy with a song that swoops and sways in all the right places but retains its heaviness thanks to its thunderous drumming and ground zero low end, the song also features some searing guitar work as well as boasting, what we think is, the albums strongest vocal.
Desert Psychlist nearly passed over this album, while perusing June's new releases, due to us not being overly taken by its low key artwork, had we passed over this we would have missed out on one of the must have releases of 2024. With "Echoes Through Time" Black on High have made an album that will appeal to rock fans no matter if they are hooped shirted grungers, leather clad metalheads, tee wearing stoners or old school rockers stuck in a 70's time warp. This is the good shit people, this is ROCK!
Check it out ....
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