EP Review: Blackfyre Rising by Blackfyre Rising
Written By Kevin McSweeney
Something a wee bit exciting is happening in the city of Edinburgh, as the lums reek in the Caledonian capital with Blackfyre Rising. The hard rock quartet released their self-titled debut EP independently on June 6th, and by the sounds of it, it was surely made in Scotland from girders.
I’m Alright opens the EP in barnstorming fashion, putting the band’s attributes in the shop window immediately. They boast a sturdy rhythm section, muscular riffs, a cool, bluesy lead guitar style, and the superb vocals of James Brown. He is aptly named; his voice is strong and soulful, just like that of his illustrious namesake. The song was described by my Metal Lair colleague McKauley Kitterman as “an earworm”, and he’s not wrong. The hook is catchier than any you might find dangling in Loch Lomond!
The intro to The Cycle briefly flirts with Soundgarden’s Rusty Cage, before the track opens up into a mid-paced rocker, in which Brown’s rich vibrato-laden vocals somewhat resemble Chris Cornell in his lower register. The brief slow chug at the end is properly heanbang-inducing!
Spellbound Woman opens with a bass intro that wouldn’t have been out of place on the classic Alice in Chains album Dirt, but then they switch things up with some slick bluesy riffing and a paean to the titular temptress that is much more Sunset Strip than Seattle. The solo in this song is absolutely mouthwatering!
The EP closes with The Tempest, in which the band changes tack completely, abandoning the 80s style altogether in favour of something much more akin to the subsequent decade. The picked arpeggios in 6/8 time are bound to bring to mind Toxicity by System of a Down, though this is soon abandoned in favour of a riff sounding much more like something by Muse in what I think is 7/4 time, (though I’m happy to be corrected.) The overall vibe is colder, more austere, and a little bit heavier, bringing to mind early 90s Tool.
All things considered, they remind me quite a bit of another Scottish band, The Almighty – particularly on the first two albums by Ricky Warwick and Co. when they were an out-and-out 80s-style hard rock band, before they turned the intensity up a few notches on Powertrippin’. They have the same ballsy attitude and bluesy aptitude that made Iron Maiden sit up and take notice. (The Almighty toured extensively with the NWOBHM icons back in the early 90s.) This is a highly promising first release from a young British band who draw upon some of the best elements of the past to create a sound that hints at what will hopefully be an exciting future.
Metal Lair Rates Blackfyre Rising A 4 out of 5 Metal Horns
Purchase Blackfyre’s Self Titled Album Here:
Tracklisting:
1. I’m Alright (04:18)
2. The Cycle (05:06)
3. Spellbound Woman (05:25)
4. The Tempest: (06:11)
Total: (21:01)
Lineup:
James Brown – Vocals/Guitar
Dave Taylor – Guitar/Backing Vocals
Magnus Tait – Bass/Backing Vocals
Tom Parker – Drums
Blackfyre Rising Online