Retrowrek Records (label)
02 October 2015 (released)
02 October 2015
There’s no f*#*i∂n’ about as far as bona fide axe-grinder Bernie Tormé’s new studio album is concerned! Fuzzed-up riffs and scorching hooks that grow horns with every twang are juxtaposed with a driving beat.
Right from the outset we know where we stand when Bernie and mates let rip with ‘Golden Pig’ – a fast-paced scorcher that’s rock-solid and bursts with a mean, mean guitar sound! Well, that’s what Bernie is known for and that’s what he does best! Ian Harris’ driving drum beat and Chris Heilmann’s bass anchor this fierce arrangement.
A strong percussive intro heralds us in on ‘1985 (Keeper Of The Flame)’ – a track that drips with sleazy blooze of the finest and hammers away with a stone-heavy punch. Killer guitar solos provide the rest.
If you think you might get a breather with ‘On Fire’ you are mistaken – after starting out with a more laid back pace the number quickly escalates into the usual hard-riff’d grooves and this is a fire that will not be easily quenched.
We ain’t taking no passengers on ‘Better Days’… ok head-bangers, let’s rip! Fast and furious with razor-sharp hooks and solo, the catchy chorus has anthem potential.
Fast and furious it stays on ‘Snake In The Garden’ and hell, this is one snake that keeps you on edge.
The reflective and trippy mood of ‘Flow’ is laced with tribal influences that are reminiscent of Native American Wovoka’s Ghost Dance chants. Lyrically though the song has very little in common with the Paiute leader’s religious movement. It also appears to be the longest track on the album.
The mood stays slightly psychedelic on ‘Into The Sun’ (and why shouldn’t we all be tripping a little bit after ‘Flow’…) but hey, you know it ain’t gonna be long before them burning guitar solos are coming in and wow, now we’re really taking off! Hey sun, here I come!
It’s back to the hard stuff and the beat gets relentless with ‘Pain Song’, a super-fast hardcore number that commands your very respect. No quarter given here!
‘Dirt’ appears to be a hard-rock number in the classical vein, but then launches into something pretty special and guys really get down to some tasty licks. The guys really stretch out on the solo work here.
‘Steady Roller Blues’ is nothing short of magnificent and this number with its bottleneck intro is one hell of a tribute to the almighty blues and its forefathers.
The slow-paced ‘Miles To Babylon’ starts out in beautifully folky and acoustic mode, and boasts the nifty little line “I chased the magic before the dream ran cold”. We then enter a mid-section that once again is on the rocky side of things before it all comes full circle when the final part closes in folky ambience, sparingly emphasized through Rosa B. on violin and Simon Jeffrey on the Bodhran.
Closing track ‘The Party’s Over’ is a short and poignant goodbye and just like the previous track starts out in a more folky mode before Bernie delivers what seems to be a brief autobiographical synopsis.
You can hear Blackheart live during Bernie’s 11-gig mini tour in October / November.
