THE NEW BLACK - review added 1st February 2011
Album Review: II: Better In Black (2011)
For fans of: Heavy Metal... and not white
German band The New Black - Fludid on vocals, Christof Leim and Fabian Schwarz on guitars, Günt Auschrat on bass, Chris Weiß on drums - released their debut album in 2009, and have since been plying their sound at major festivals and live shows everywhere, including opening for AC/DC in front of a crowd of sixty five thousand.
The band, apparently formed "by coincidence (and heavy drinking), solely for the love of rock, huge riffs and the power of a great song", play an impressive heavy metal with nods to the alternative scene, plenty of Southern U.S. grit (surprising considering their origin), and a big load of volume. Think along the lines of Motorhead mixed with Creed mixed with Anthrax and you'll have a vague idea.
Good:
The strangely named "Fludid" has a great voice. He does not sound even vaguely Germanic. If you heard he was from Alabama and liked hunting critters with his .44 Magnum, it wouldn't come as a great surprise. The rest of the musicians - notably the guitarists - are standout too. The variety of sounds and styles throughout is well judged. Every song is obviously The New Black, but they really do cover all the bases from light to heavy. I'm a big fan of the simple but effective artwork too.
Not So Good:
Not a lot that's it's easy to put a finger on. The biggest issue is that not many of the songs reach any sort of height. They are all pleasant on the ears, but not all the tracks grab you round the collar and shake you. I definitely prefer the heavier moments on the album...and hope the band "do one" with their next album and make it a brutal affair.
The Songs:
Best moments include the ultra heavy 'The King I Was', the big 'n' gnarly 'Downgrade', the grinding 'My Favorite Disease', the surprisingly ballad-like 'When It All Ends', and the very impressive guitar showcase 'Last Chance To Throw Dirt'.
In Summation:
This is a decent album. Not all of it hits the spot for me, but there's no denying the performances and talent on show. With more contagious songs, these guys would be unstoppable.
Entertainment/Enjoyment:
Musicianship:
Vocals:
Song Writing:
Production:
Overall (Not An Average Of The Above):
Check out... The heavier bits...and the lightest part too...
Track List:
01. Better In Black
02. The King I Was
03. Batteries & Rust
04. Downgrade
05. Into Modesty
06. Altar Boys
07. Happy Zombies
08. My Favorite Disease
09. Fading Me Out
10. When It All Ends
11. Last Chance To Throw Dirt
12. Sun Cries Moon
Label: AFM Records
Artist's website(s): The New Black | MySpace | Facebook
