Tuesday 2 September 2014

BLACK LOVE

Band: BLACK LOVE
GenresPunk / Rock / Post-Rock / Post-Hardcore / Post-Metal / Emo / Screamo / Alternative
Related artistsN/A.
CountryMontreal, Quebec CANADA
Years Active2011-present
Song: "Libertines"
Album: "Black Love 12inch"
Year: 2014
Label(s): Zegema Beach Records / L'Oeil du Tigre Records / I.Corrupt.Records / Don't Live Like Me Records / Good Post Day Records / Aorte / L'Orchidoclaste
This post's artist is from the September 2014 Mix. This is track #2.
You can download the September Mix#9 right here or get the new October Mix#10 here.
For fans of: RosettaHoover, Russian Circles, Envy, Cursive, Sed Non Satiata, Bear Vs. Shark, Nous tionsYage, Mono, Milanku, Hot Water Music and Cave In.



I was first introduced to BLACK LOVE after I saw them in Hamilton, Ontario with about 15 other people in late 2013. Halfway through the first song I was absolutely hooked. The band amalgamated a seemingly impossible mix of punk, hardcore, screamo, ambient rock and epic soundscapes to create a truly unique sound. This band from Montreal deserves at least a listen, for there are no accurate pigeon-hole examples to find footing for an accurate parallel. BLACK LOVE contacted me about releasing their album after we hit it off at the show and I eagerly agreed. The amazing, upcoming self-titled album from the band is being released on a prodigious amount of labels on September 30, 2014 and is hands down my vote for album cover of the year, to boot.

Let’s talk about the Black Love 12”. This is an album that knows where it’s going. Everything seems mapped out in advance and very well calculated. “Corps Étranger” is a perfect example. As the album’s opener, it slowly builds, like a time warp tunnel funneling you down until the 3-minute mark when everything comes together in a whirlwind of melodic, spacey noise.

Janic’s vocals are stirring and give the band truly a unique sound. If I had to compare (which I don’t…but I’m a dick) I’d say it’s a weird amalgamation of crooning and screaming that remind me of Hoover, Refused and Cursive with a heavier emphasis on screaming. I guess I'd say "Corps Étranger" shows his range and includes an excellent stab at melody to help close out the song. He is definitely one of my favourite frontmen.

The three guitarists crash together like waves, playing very different parts that slowly swirl and intertwine until they become a massive wall of sound. If we’re going to talk about the bassist Charles there’s no better place to start than the opening of “Libertines”, which is bouncy in a Life Aquatic/James Bond kind of way and, simply put, is spectacular. That song in particular shows the faster, rougher edge of BLACK LOVE and may well be the standout track on the record, but truly every song is really really good, including “Interlude” which ambient/noise fans will certainly be drawn to.

Becker’s Leitmotif” and “La fois que le spot est passé aufeu” are two other songs that will gently pull you in but rock you at the same time. The former boasts a really awesome outro which has some pretty sweet drums, while the latter reminds me of a more direct but equally spacey “Corps Étranger” and is the perfect closer. I also need to mention the steady beat supplied by the drummer, who knows exactly what to play, as well as when to compliment and when to lead. This band has all the pieces to be great and they are doing just that. Not only are the songs great, but the front/back cover is easily my vote (thus far…August) for best artwork. A drowning horse among a sea of drowning people. Black as all hell.

I think all their songs translate very well live, but the older material lacked the pull and the substance of their live material. I'm more than excited to say the new LP sounds just like the band does live and finally packs the punch on vinyl that they were always capable of.

It’s really hard to compare these guys to other bands, because their sound is truly their own. Some bands with similar sounds would be the aforementioned Cursive (focusing mostly on their harder material), Cave In (the spacey guitars), Nous Étions, Rosetta, Envy and Russian Circles. Regardless, go jam these fellas and drown in the black, happy as hell.

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DISCOGRAPHY

2011 - Live digitalEP (download here)

2012 - Black Love cassetteEP (stream/donate/download here)

2013 - The Dischord Of A Forgotten Sketch split 7" (stream here & purchase here)

2014 - Black Love 12"LP (stream here & purchase here)

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(2014) BLACK LOVE - "Libertines" (from 'Black Love' 12")

(2014) BLACK LOVE - "Libertines" live video

(2014) BLACK LOVE - "Corps Étranger" (from 'Black Love' 12")

(2014) BLACK LOVE - "Corps Étranger" live video

(2014) BLACK LOVE - "La fois que le spot est passé au feu" (from 'Black Love' 12")

(2014) BLACK LOVE - "La fois que le spot est passé au feu" live video

(2012) BLACK LOVE - "Altar" (from 'Black Love' 7")

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BLACK LOVE additional links



Live Demo (download here)
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