Black
Country Communion – 'Afterglow' album review
Released
on: J&R Adventures. Release Date: Available now
Black
Country Communion (BCC) being Glenn Hughes (Bass/Vocals), Joe Bonamassa
(Guitar/Vocals), Jason Bonham (Drums) and Derek Sherinian (Keyboards) are now
on this, their third studio album and their combined strengths just continues
to shine through.
Sadly in
recent months there have been words exchanged between the two main men, Hughes
and Bonamassa not even face to face, but through social network Twitter with
Hughes’ disdain that BCC cannot commit to full scale touring, due to Bonamassa’s
own heavy solo touring commitments.
Apparently
now, they have got back on good terms, thanks to their recognition of how great
the band itself is and how they are being lauded with massive accolades for
their combined talents and at the time of writing, ‘Afterglow’ has hit the
charts globally in a big way!
Opening
track ‘Big Train’ comes across in a similar fashion to much of the first BCC
album, as it is all about quick snappy changes, riffs through the verses but
the chorus goes for the throat with its hooks. As the song enters the final
third, there’s almost a Police type vibe that kicks in. There’s lots to absorb
on this first track which may take some folks some getting used to.
Second
track ‘This Is Your Time’ when I first heard it I actually felt it reminded me
of early Rainbow, with its heavy and borderline darkness, but then after a
number of plays, I hear hints of Led Zeppelin about it, so no surprise there
perhaps.
Good
groove to it!
Wow! ‘Midnight
Sun’ starts off by reminding me of The Who, but then the verse kicks in and
it’s way different and that’s really what BCC are all about. They just loved to
change direction in each song, it gives their music so much depth and variety
it really does.
The chorus
is just wonderful, really catchy, but I really do hear some elements that make
me think of ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again.’
Tell me
you don’t hear it, especially with the intro and then at the end, all the
little accents. Good stuff!
OK,
‘Confessor’ was a track I had heard before I got the album and it just blew me
away and made me want this album more than ever. It totally rocks out in great
style, it again has an element of depth, but it really is a strong rocker.
Earth moving vocals from Glenn Hughes, absolutely killer guitar and keyboard
solos from Joe and Derek respectively, while Jason's drumming is just so kicking!
‘Cry
Freedom’ is the first track on this album where Joe’s lead vocal starts to be
heard, as he and Glenn actually share duties.
Some nice
bluesy slide riffs from Joe here and there. It really is a track where you feel
Joe is totally in his element, with its bluesy groove. Glenn’s vocals are still
as strong and he’s giving it his all.
This is
once again a very strong album from BCC, again it’s a grower with their unique
style, but play it a few times and you’ll feel it!
It has its
light and dark moments too, some where it’s almost Beatles like in places and
then during Joe’s solo, he takes the song in a different direction again. It
moves in epic style proportions at times. Classy!
‘Dandelion’
is up next and it starts heavy, before easing right back with a haunting like
vocal from Glenn, before the chorus picks things up again. Cool track!
Glenn
Hughes vocals seriously never cease to amazes me where he suddenly throws it
way up there when you really least expect it.
OK, fans
of the band will know that BCC like to sometimes throw in a few tracks that
rally go the distance – i.e. Six minutes or more. – so they can jam out a
little here and there and ‘The Circle’ is one such track here. As was the title
track.
The verses
to ‘The Circle’ are more generally laid back, while the choruses really push
more and where in the verses Glenn sings so soulfully, in the choruses, his
vocal is pushed right up there!
Nice solos from Joe on this one and Derek’s
atmospheric keys compliment it all so well.
‘Common
Man’ is next and Joe’s voice is heard here to a degree, but it’s clear that
Glenn has taken the majority of the lead vocals on this album, whereas on the
previous two, it’s been pretty evenly split.
There’s a
great, yet short section in the first half where first Derek jams a riff, then
Joe does one, then Glenn on bass and Jason a quick runaround too. Nice one
guys!
It’s
medium paced rocker, that’s a little busy in spots, but not too much. A little
funky too in the second half, some great Fender Rhodes sounding keys, then Joe
rips out a killer solo. Nice job again guys.
I really
love ‘The Giver’ it starts all laid back and mellow and kind of atmospheric and
then picks up with a controlled heavier riffing in each chorus, without getting
too crazy. It’s almost that Zeppelin like sound again, but still true to what
BCC is all about.
Solo from
Joe just flurries along in fine fashion before it eases right back to close as
it started, so gently. Wonderful!
‘Crawl’ is
the final track and it’s dark and heavy style riffing, again quite Zeppelin
like in its groove, but there’s something about the delivery from Hughes every
time that makes these songs so unique, so Black Country Communion!
So
overall, no complaints here on album number three, there is a special magic
these guys pull together when they play, that simply is unique.
It’s funny
though, as each album seems to take its own uniqueness, the first being perhaps
a little more diverse, the second a little more mainstream directed and this
third one, really a combination of the two predecessors.
Rating:
3.75 out of 5
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