Black Stone Cherry - Magic Mountain (Album Review)
Friday, 09 May 2014
Written by Simon Ramsay
Although their last album cemented Black Stone Cherry's status as a major force in Europe and finally broke them in the USA, the band have since reacted to its overly slick formula, implying that it was the result of too much outside interference. It's something they rectify on an uncompromising fourth album that's more aggressive than anything they've done before.
It would have been easy to continue down the radio friendly route of 2011’s 'Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea', which used hit-making producer Howard Benson and external writers to add extra commercial pizazz. The fact Black Stone Cherry have shunned that approach is a ballsy move, one that informs every second of this record.
However, 'Magic Mountain' isn't a complete volte face as much as a distillation of albums past, maintaining their pounding grooves, fierce riffs, southern soul and meaty hooks beneath scalding production that harks back to their 2006 debut album. Unfortunately, the sound quality doesn't always bring out the best in the material.
This is apparent on underwhelming opener Holding On...To Letting Go, where producer Joe Barresi's overdriven punch is too muddy and lacks a balanced dynamic range. More high end warmth is needed, and Peace Pipe typifies this as its swampy delta-metal cadence sounds great, but the mellifluous chorus demands some Please Come In sparkle to truly shine.
Once you adapt to the sonic coarseness, though, there's plenty to love, with Never Surrender and Fiesta Del Fuego epitomising its balls to the wall excellence. Built around stunning riffs, the former boasts a tremendous throat shredding yell of “Be the defender, never surrender”, while the latter's a tequila enhanced orgy of sex, drugs, cow bell and a mind-melting closing jam.
Inventive arrangements, extended solos and left field turns ignite this record, with the primal country-blues of Blow My Mind - with Black Sabbath bursts of whiplash and spontaneous, edgy soloing – exemplifying how they use their abilities and diverse influences to breathe new life into a classic form.
Likewise the superlative southern-pop of Hollywood in Kentucky, which spins gleefully satirical rhymes about transporting Tinsletown's vacuous glitz to the band’s salt-of-the-earth hometown, before climaxing with a demented bluegrass outro that sounds like a chase sequence from The Dukes Of Hazzard on crack.
With a wealth of lyrical smartness, the ability to enhance songs by peppering them with evolving instrumental nuances and the telling inflections of singer Chris Robinson's bluesy, soulful rasp, Black Stone Cherry are one of the most musically rich rock acts around.
The seemingly lumpen Dance Girl encapsulates that as a pole dance electro-vibe and moody sheen transfigure it into an insanely catchy anthem. The thunderous Me And Mary Jane and part psychedelic, part stadium battering title track are equally deceptive stoner anthems, their straightforward structures coloured with enough bare-boned passion, rolling embellishments and infectious hooks to make them timeless crowd pleasers.
Bringing extra depth to proceedings is Robinson's recent battle with depression. From the blues-rock blast of Bad Luck & Hard Love – his shout of 'It's my life and it's one hell of a ride' is spine tingling - to the emancipating ballad Runaway with its melodic chart topping potential and the acoustic, dreamy feedback of Sometimes, a core of triumph over adversity makes this one hell of an empowering listen.
Overall, 'Magic Mountain' is a gutsy hard-rock record whose much publicised back-to-basics-aesthetic belies the impressive variety and imaginative detail within.
Black Stone Cherry Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Thu October 23 2014 - DUBLIN Academy
Fri October 24 2014 - BELFAST Mandela Hall
Sun October 26 2014 - GLASGOW SSE Hydro
Mon October 27 2014 - SHEFFIELD Sheffield Motorpoint Arena
Tue October 28 2014 - CARDIFF Motorpoint Arena Cardiff
Thu October 30 2014 - BIRMINGHAM LG Arena
Fri October 31 2014 - MANCHESTER Phones 4u Arena
Sat November 01 2014 - LONDON Wembley Arena
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