Release
date: April 06th
2018. Label: RidingEasy
Records.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Blackwater
Holylight – S/T
– Tracklisting
1.Willow
05:21
2.Wave
of Conscience 04:13
3.Babies
05:17
4.Paranoia
04:13
5.Sunrise
04:51
6.Slow
Hole 06:55
7.Carry
Her 04:43
8.Jizz
Witch 05:29
Members
Allison
(Sunny) Faris
Laura
Hopkins
Catherine
(Cat) Hoch
Sarah
Mckenna.
Review
Blackwater
Holylight self-titled debut album is a very weird and intriguing
record indeed. The all-female group play a subtle blend of Southern
Rock. Fuzz, Psych, Doom and a few other elements. This is a band that
has created their own sound. The album has a deeply rich
Southern/Gothic style feel with each of the songs sounding very
different to each other.
The
vocals are beautifully sung throughout whilst the music drifts from
serene blissful sounds to a heavier psychedelic and doomier sound.
Opening track - Willow - has a classic rock structure with the band
bringing a progressive seventies rock feel that allows the band to
create heavy doom based sounds. The whole feel and flow of the album
drifts one dreamy post-rock movement to the next.
Second
track - Wave Of Conscience - carries on the strange psychedelic
sounds from the opening but operates with a more fluid feel and you
can start hearing some dynamic sludgy grooves being added. This song
starts to take the band into heavier waters with the whole mood being
more experimental.
Third
track - Babies - relies more on Drone based sounds to get the song
fully moving. Though Blackwater Holylight still retain their
wonderful weird sounding sixties/seventies atmospheric classic rock
sound. The song is one of the least heaviest tracks on the album. As
Blackwater Holylight play a more soothing blend of Psych/Classic
Rock.
I'm
perhaps finding it hard to keep describing Blackwater Holylight's
overall sound. So I'm gonna stop and focus on the other parts of the
album. The vocals are simply exquisite. As they move from a soulful
blissful sound to one with more fiery passion. The production is
first rate as the album has a very subtle gloomy feel throughout.
This
is a heavy atmospheric album. It may not feel like it from your very
first listen of the album. However there are a few hidden surprises
with each subsequent listen. As you begin to truly appreciate how
heavy and creative the album actually is. As I said before in the
review. Blackwater Holylight does indeed create their own sound. I
can't compare the band to anyone else and that is a good thing.
Songs
such as: Sunrise, Slow Hole, Carry Her and the final track – Jizz
Witch - keep you under their majestic and heavy spell. Different
sounds combine for some of the albums heaviest and finest moments.
This album took me by surprise and I'm glad I give this album the
chance it richly deserved. Blackwater Holylight has released not only
one of the weirdest sounding albums of the year but perhaps one of
the best and most enjoyable of recent years.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Dave
at US/THEM PR Group and Andy at Palmer Turner Overdrive for
the promo.
Blackwater
Holylight debut album will
be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via RidingEasy Records from April 06th
2018.
Links:
