Black Art – Full Lungs | Empty Words EP

By RingMaster Review on November 7, 2014 • ( 0 )

Photo credit: http://www.denniswisse.com/

With a roar of an antagonistic sound sitting somewhere between the demised Californian band Red Tape and Brits The Ghost of a Thousand, UK punk ‘n’ rollers Black Art are an emerging proposition with the potential, going by their new EP, to ignite the punk scene. Driven with a melodic hardcore fuelled fury in sound and lyrical confrontation, the band has been stirring up rigorous attention and appetites in recent times and it is easy to hear why with their Full Lungs | Empty Words EP. It is angry and hostile but loaded with an anthemic contagion which makes every track a lingering and thrilling proposition. It is a knack shared by the two bands we mentioned at the start but in the hands of Black Arts seemingly is even more inescapable for imagination and emotions.

The new EP follows a well-received 7” split with Surrender The Coast which was released a couple of months ago. It swiftly reinforces the reputation garnered over the years by the band for their sound and live presence where they have shared stages with bands such as Feed The Rhino, Baby Godzilla, Palm Reader, The Catharsis and many more along the way. It is a release which sees the Forest Of Dean quintet go for the jugular straight away but equally seduce with the first of numerous spicy hooks and infectious melodic enterprise.

That instant bait is provided by opener Life Stalker, coaxing riffs laying the first lure to be immediately joined by heavy swipes of thumping beats from drummer Nathan Davies and a carnivorously gripping bassline cast by Jake Morgan. It is an intimidating and riveting predation which becomes more caustic and challenging with the fierce vocal squalls of Joe Kibble which also initially strike in great singular assaults. The track is soon a maelstrom of voracious incitement and energy, the guitars of Nick Lewis and Oli Bendall blazing away with fiery riffs and tasty grooves to brawl with craft and flavoursome endeavour.

The potent beginning to the EP sets the template for things to come in quality and success, and a little in sound but as the following Duress shows there is a busy heart to all songs which gives them distinct characters. The second song lays down a ridiculously addictive and intimidating torrent of riffs bound in sultrily alluring grooves from the start, its brief but powerful presence a corrosive stomp which grips and scars with contagious efficiency. Its excellent tempest is matched by the more inventively sculpted Hold Fast. It is still an uncompromising fury but the guitars twist with a wider heavy rock recipe whilst rhythms carry the punk spirit in every debilitating swipe and throaty bass groan. Though it does not quite match the tracks before it, it is richly satisfying, aggression driven rock ‘n’ roll with little want to get fussy and clutter its raw muscle bound bones with over blown flourishes.

The Endurance has the passions lustful again, the opening flame of sonic grazing enticing the blistering and colourfully hued turbulence to follow. Hooks flare up throughout the rhythmic and sonic animosity, sharing the limelight with heavy rock grooves and an inflamed passion especially expelled through the lungs of Kibble. It is a brute of a rocker but soon in the shadow of the primal rock ‘n’ roll fired Pseudo Sound. Morgan uncages another irresistible grump of a bass temptation whilst the guitars come with venomous designs and toxic expression, all aligning with the merciless swings of Davies for a riotous and compelling storm.

Full Lungs | Empty Words is completed by the quarrelsome charm of Fool’s Gold, a final bracing bluster of skilled creative assertiveness and impassioned belligerence. Soaked in a fierce scowl amidst a skilful savaging, the song is a fine intrusive close to an EP ripe with promise and accomplished invention. The release provides a very impressive and memorable base from which Black Art with their already plentiful armoury, can spring to truly fire up punk rock far and wide. ‘

The Full Lungs | Empty Words is available now digitally and on CD via White Russian Records @ http://whiterussianrecords.nl/store/index.php/cd/black-art-full-lungs-empty-words.html, CD and Cassette via Let Them Die Records @ http://letthemdierecords.bigcartel.com/product/black-art-full-lungs-empty-words-cassette-cd , and I For Us Records @ http://music.iforusrecords.be/album/full-lungs-empty-words

https://www.facebook.com/Blackartuk

RingMaster 07/11/2014

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