BLACK LAKES

DEAD GODS

REVIEWER – GRAEME WRIGHT

Game changer. Those familiar with my musical musings will know how highly I rate Black Lakes. I saw them twice last year, once at the Dementia Aware Festival in Cannock, then a few months later they were at The Tivoli in Wales supporting South Of Salem. They were amazing both times and I duly bought the T Shirt, the CD and anything else I could lay my hands on.

Their debut album ‘For All We’ve Left Behind’ was a fabulous blend of Alternative Metal that was combined with intelligent lyrics and huge slabs of accessible melody, all wrapped up in a steel edged package. It was a great record and it was difficult to see how the band could improve on such excellence. Well the wait is over and I’m here to tell you this is a stunning sophomore album that is probably the best and most consistent record I’ve listened to all year.

The new record contains ten songs which are of such a high standard that it’s off the scale. The opening track ‘H.A.T.E.’ is a short sharp treatise on division and hate within our society. If the band aren’t opening with this song at their next live show I’ll be amazed, because it’s instant and gratifying with a huge chorus that burns into the brain on your very first listen. This bodes well for the rest of the album and second song ‘Rapture’ doesn’t drop the ball. Singer Will Preston is an immense talent and he sings this song which rages against the destruction of the planet with pitch perfect anger and despair. ‘Hurricane’ discusses the current political climate and the people who really run countries, but the music doesn’t get swamped by the message and it’s intense and immediate. ‘White Cliffs’ was the first single from this album and a song that the band had performed live when I saw them in Wales. It’s an amazing song that decries the politicisation of the “small boats” situation by an uncaring government. ‘Vapour’ is something very different for this band. It’s an almost synth led track that sounds almost like something Paradise Lost would have produced in their more experimental days and it’s a beautiful record. Title track ‘Dead Gods’ discusses the abandonment of the people by an uncaring hierarchy and is a fabulous and ominous work of genius that I thought would surely be the finest song on the album and the best thing the band have ever done. I was actually wrong on that score but more on that conundrum later.

‘Burn’ was the third single from the album and it discusses depression and other mental health conditions that so many people fight against on a daily basis. ‘Dark Glass’ discusses the double edged sword of Social Media and it’s another beautifully produced wholly original sounding masterpiece that is exquisitely played by a band who are absolutely at the top of their game at this moment in time. ‘The Fallen’ is a discussion of self doubt and you come to realise that every song on this album is the sign of an artist not afraid to bare their very souls to the listener which is a brave road to take but we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that ultimately the message that comes out of these songs is one of at least a glimmer of hope and positivity rather than total abject despair.

That leaves us with album closer ‘Dark Before The Dawn’. What an amazing piece of work this is. The best song on the album and sort of an overview of everything that has proceeded it on this record. It’s completely stunning, emotional and something that will live long in the memory.

This album is a masterpiece. No matter what side of the musical spectrum you lean towards there is something here for you. Quite simply this album should be the one to tip this band over the edge to the next level. It’s an emotionally draining experience but I must stress that it never takes its eye off the ball and ultimately it’s an album with ten tracks of the highest musical quality that I’m sure you will love.

BAND

Black Lakes:

Will Preston – Lead Vocals

Scott Bradshaw – Guitars and Vocals

James Rowlands – Guitars and Vocals

Lee Harris – Bass Guitars

Dafydd Fuller – Drums

ALBUM TRACK LIST

1. H.A.T.E.

2. Rapture

3. Hurricane

4. White Cliffs

5. Vapour

6. Dead Gods

7. Burn

8. Dark Glass

9. The Fallen

10. Dark Before The Dawn