Blacklist (IRL) | ‘Something’s Got To Give’

There’s a first time for everything on Metalireland, and a concept demo based on the story of Marylin Monroe certainly ranks high in the originality stakes. Who said romance was dead?

The cover art needs some work, that’s for sure. I’ve seen better put together on Etchasketch. But we dont judge our books round these parts, and luckily the music inside is of a much higher quality than the aesthetics.

Blacklist play traditional metal and hard rock that will please fans of Glyder, Fireland or A Little Bitter. As sure as night follows day there’s a Maiden influence, with well harmonised chunking melodies being the order of the day.

The Limerick brothers nod to Megadeth occassionally too. They’re title track has scents of the ‘Countdown To Extinction’ era, albeit in a more balladic fashion. It’s well done. The problem though is that this mid paced metal is done everywhere. It always has been and feels like it always will be.

The question any band in this style has to ask themselves is what they can bring to it - presumably nothing new, but at the very least, buckets of passion and drive. Otherwise it’s a repeat of a well worn style.

They have atmosphere on their side anyhow. The crooning vocals are steeped in reverb, and the occasional clean picking intuits 80s melodrama nicely. ‘Take Me With You’ is a nice departure it has to be said, capturing a certain strutty Whitesnake vibe - it’s a more interesting sideways step for them, and something that might do well to be developed in future.

Also - why did the lads wait til track 5 until cracking out what’s evidently a great guitar talent? Music like this needs guitar histrionics, and the chops are clearly there. Those nice sweeps and licks should be out more.

It’s good gear, solid and well played, but perhaps just a shade geriatric overall. But then what can you say about the late 80’s/early 90’s style of hard rock, done in 2010? Unless it’s incendiary, not a great deal.

- Earl Grey ::: 02/03/10