In a time when Frontiers throws out “all star” projects to left and right, projects that indeed contains skilled, competent and in many cases brilliant musicians also just as often lacks both soul and heart and again just as often never contains music written and produced by the musicians involved but the same go-to-guys on album after album which makes said records sound more or less the same both in song structure and production, it feels so good when a project-band comes along where said members has done just that – written and produced their creation themselves. Black Swan is that kind of band.
Black Swan was formed in 2020 by lead singer Robin McAuley (MSG, Grand Prix), guitarist Reb Beach (Winger, Whitesnake, Dokken) and drummer Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Mr Big) with bass player Jeff Pilson (Foreigner, Dokken, MSG, Dio) being brought in at first as the producer and co-song writer but after some persuasion from Beach, McAuley and Starr decided to take on bass duties as well. The band’s self-titled debut album was released the same year and without the band playing live at all – we all know why – the record was quite a big success so that a follow-up would show up sooner or later was a no-brainer. Thankfully, I might add because I thought the debut was great. Nothing really new under sun musically, the past of Beach, McAuley and Pilson shone through here and there.
The album opens with the instrumental intro “Before The Light” that with an eerie atmosphere leads us into the first “real” tune “She Hides Behind”, a crunchy, upbeat and fast-tracked rocker with some chunky and fat riffage from Beach. It’s an energetic puncher that’s more 80’s Hard Rock than any Melodic Rock and creates a spark perfect for the stage complete with hooky melodies and a direct refrain. Great stuff. Next up is the title track and leading single, again an upbeat and very direct melodic hard-rocker with striking hooks and big melodies in both verse and refrain. I hear traces of both McAuley-Schenker and Winger without any of them taking over. The massive chorus is AOR laden without going glossy on us, it’s just catchy as damn and a phenomenal tune.
Second single “Eagles Fly” is another up-tempo Melodic Rock number with an 80’s outlook and and chunky groove, quite direct and straight ahead with some highly effective melodies. It’s a lively and energetic rocker that blends the members’ pasts effectively with a stunning refrain as the icing on the cake. Killer stuff. McAuley-Schenker and early Winger meets up again in the upbeat and the soundwise uplifting “See You Cry”. It sports some AOR-ish tendencies with fine-tuned and smooth vocal-melodies with a mid 80’s touch – and another glueing chorus on top. Awesome stuff.
“Killer On The Loose” – not a Thin Lizzy cover – is a guitar-driven and stompy hard-rocker with some big Melodic Rock vibes and smoother melodies. There are some Dokken riffing thrown in albeit with Beach’s personal sound. Memorable melodies and poppy hooks doesn’t take away any of the song’s intensity and the chorus is again very good. Even though “Miracle” makes me think of the late 80’s, it’s also quite a heavy rocker with some chuggy riffing over a solid and steady rhythm. It holds a darker ambience but it’s still very melodic and the verse’s structure differs from the rest of the songs. It do sport a catchy enough refrain but maybe not as strong as the rest. It’s the album’s latest single and I can find other songs more suited for that purpose, to be frank. A decent track.
“How Do You Feel” is more of a slow-burner and holds a bluesy vibe and the feel of a smokey club, quite down-to-earth, organic and rawer edged. It’s mellow with a melancholic twist and a darker flow, it’s a bit of a semi-ballad but it’s not 80’s power-balladry by any means – more depth than slickness and it contrasts the rest of the album brilliantly. A splendid number. Right on the opposite side “Long Way Down” rocks fast, heavy and raunchy riffing and mixes Erase The Slate era Dokken, latter day Winger and Pilson’s new band The End Machine with Black Swan’s debut. This is classic Hard Rock yet with hooky melodies to go with it and a striking chorus. Great.
“Crown” follows the same footsteps as its predecessor, like they were written after one another – heavy, slammin’, punchy and edgy but maybe with a more prominent Dokken fused riff. A real powerhouse to bang your head and play air-guitar to. A good tune but the chorus doesn’t hit as hard as on “Long Way Down”. Also quite heavy and upbeat “Wicked The Day” holds a more melodic outlook to the faster pace and the gritty guitars. The riff is somewhat similar to Dokken’s “Kiss Of Death” which gives the tune a bit of a Metal twist. The chorus-hook grabs a holds right off the bat, very direct and in-your-face. Splendid indeed.
The closing track “I Will Follow” is a beefy rocker that carried by a solid rhythm foundation where the main riff blends Winger and Dokken but the song also looks back into the 70’s and I’m getting a Rainbow feel here. Also, the guitar introduction made me think of Ozzy’s “Killer Of Giants” of all songs and even though the song takes a more held-back position and holds a dramatic flair, it’s by no means soft or mawkish. Both guitar-lines and vocal-melodies are immediate and memorable and the refrain is huge with an instant catchiness. Phenomenal.
With two great albums under the belt, Black Swan must now be considered a real band and not just another project. Sure, with day-jobs as Whitesnake, Winger and Foreigner, it can be hard for the guys to make schedules work but it would be a huge mistake not to take this band out on the road – there’s no doubt this lot will work amazingly in a live-situation. I mean, the guys’ names speak for themselves. While Black Swan hasn’t reinvented the wheel at all on this album either, they do know how to write hooky, driven melodic Hard Rock tunes that sticks without getting glossy or cheesy so who cares. Without a bad song in sight this album should satisfy every lover of melodic Hard Rock out there.
8/10
More Black Swan reviews:
Tracklist:
1. Before The Light
2. She Hides Behind
3. Generation Mind
4. Eagles Fly
5. See You Cry
6. Killer On The Loose
7. Miracle
8. How Do You Feel
9. Long Way Down
10. Crown
11. Wicked The Day
12. I Will Follow
CD & Festival reviews 