Blackbyrd
Hailing from South Wales, this 4 piece rock band have spent the best part of 10 years touring around the UK to try and get their name out there. Having secured slots on festival bills and tours, released EP’s and dealt with (the notorious) promoters, the band have overcome numerous trials and tribulations in their time but are now ready once again to take over the world. Their latest offering from the studio is testament to this aim, having recruited Martin ‘Ginge’ Ford (Skindred/Dubwar) and Matt Bond (The Dirty Youth) on production – so when they sent us a copy I thought it only right to check things out! Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Blackbyrd…
Opening with Day Of Reckoning there’s an immediate sense of Southern style rock, a funky guitar line driving the force begind the track and creating a sound which is impossible to resist. The vocals which come into take the lead are gravelly and hard, offering up a further dimension to the track in order to keep the sense of rhythm and progression moving throughout the track. This is a song which is going to absolutely kill on the live scene, offering enough catchiness to get everyone involved whilst still managing to keep the sense of power at the forefront of things – in summary – this is a hell of an opening to things!
Fall from Grace continues the idea of reliance on the backing track to get things moving, this time sounding even more funky with the rapid drums which lead the way into things. Powerful and full of movement, this is the sort of track you want to see a band playing live as you know it’s going to get the crowd involved from the start and keep you in throughout. Catchy from start to finish, this is a serious highpoint on the album from the guys and shows how far they’ve come since starting out – definitely one to check out. Academy Of The Broken Hearted comes up next to take the lead, this time opening with an almost restrained edge to things but soon resuming the raucous approach of the previous tracks. What’s most striking about the tracks so far is how they seem to evolve as the album progresses, each one leading on from the one before but adding in something different, something slightly more progressive to keep the sound interesting and fresh – it’s a clever mix which the band seem to have done well.
Echoes Of The Dead once again changes the style from the band, this time throwing you head first into a melee of hammering drums, roaring guitar lines and a roving bass line. The mix formed this time is once again one which is going to get you involved and wanting more, almost showing that they’re used to the live scene and that they use their experience to craft the sound of their tracks. If you’re looking for a band to get out and see this summer then I would advise these guys to be one of the ones for you – this is awesome! Closing with Nothing Left this is the one thing I think people really need to take away from this record – this is music designed for a good time and fun moments. The final moments here will leave you with no doubt that these guys can play their instruments and can write songs, but there’s more to it than that – they can get your attention and keep it for as long as they damned well please. Closing on a high, all I’m really left with is to say wow, this is a band you need to make sure you check out!
I really like the record which Blackbyrd have put together here as it shows that they’re a band who are prepared to work hard – their style has clearly evolved over their career to the point it’s at now where people are really going to take it on board. At times quiet, at other times raucous, this record has it all – and is definitely one you need to make sure you check out!
To find out more about Blackbyrd, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with Day Of Reckoning there’s an immediate sense of Southern style rock, a funky guitar line driving the force begind the track and creating a sound which is impossible to resist. The vocals which come into take the lead are gravelly and hard, offering up a further dimension to the track in order to keep the sense of rhythm and progression moving throughout the track. This is a song which is going to absolutely kill on the live scene, offering enough catchiness to get everyone involved whilst still managing to keep the sense of power at the forefront of things – in summary – this is a hell of an opening to things!
Fall from Grace continues the idea of reliance on the backing track to get things moving, this time sounding even more funky with the rapid drums which lead the way into things. Powerful and full of movement, this is the sort of track you want to see a band playing live as you know it’s going to get the crowd involved from the start and keep you in throughout. Catchy from start to finish, this is a serious highpoint on the album from the guys and shows how far they’ve come since starting out – definitely one to check out. Academy Of The Broken Hearted comes up next to take the lead, this time opening with an almost restrained edge to things but soon resuming the raucous approach of the previous tracks. What’s most striking about the tracks so far is how they seem to evolve as the album progresses, each one leading on from the one before but adding in something different, something slightly more progressive to keep the sound interesting and fresh – it’s a clever mix which the band seem to have done well.
Echoes Of The Dead once again changes the style from the band, this time throwing you head first into a melee of hammering drums, roaring guitar lines and a roving bass line. The mix formed this time is once again one which is going to get you involved and wanting more, almost showing that they’re used to the live scene and that they use their experience to craft the sound of their tracks. If you’re looking for a band to get out and see this summer then I would advise these guys to be one of the ones for you – this is awesome! Closing with Nothing Left this is the one thing I think people really need to take away from this record – this is music designed for a good time and fun moments. The final moments here will leave you with no doubt that these guys can play their instruments and can write songs, but there’s more to it than that – they can get your attention and keep it for as long as they damned well please. Closing on a high, all I’m really left with is to say wow, this is a band you need to make sure you check out!
I really like the record which Blackbyrd have put together here as it shows that they’re a band who are prepared to work hard – their style has clearly evolved over their career to the point it’s at now where people are really going to take it on board. At times quiet, at other times raucous, this record has it all – and is definitely one you need to make sure you check out!
To find out more about Blackbyrd, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls