Monday 5 November 2018

Black Atlas - Weight Of The World (Album Review)


Release date: November 02nd 2018. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD

Weight Of The World – Tracklisting

1.I'm Not Dead 04:02
2.Paralyser 04:58
3.Long Man 04:15
4.Low Tides 01:09
5.Incoming Waves 05:58
6.Deadweight 06:08
7.Amnesia 04:24
8.Preacher 05:56
9.Piece by Peace 07:17

Members

Mikey Ward - Vocals/Guitar
Peter Hunt - Guitar
Simon Wilson - Bass
James Lane - Drums

Review

Black Atlas debut album Weight Of The World has one foot in Desert/Stoner Rock past and the other buried in heavy modern sounding FUZZ based Sludge grooves. The band pull off a fine balancing act of paying homage to the Desert/Stoner Rock Bands of yesteryear and today’s Psychedelic Fuzz/Sludge Rock Bands.

The album’s production is quite loud and angry whilst offering a raw sound that allows Black Atlas to what they’re fully capable of and you get that feeling from excellent opening song – I’m Not Dead. This song sees Black Atlas playing a mixture of heavy Sludge/Stoner Rock that soon sees the music bring in elements of Fuzz, Grunge and Desert Rock with a seedy atmosphere that I didn’t quite expect.

Black Atlas carry on playing this style of music on songs such as: Paralyser, Long Man and Low Tides with the band then opting to decide to add strands of Psychedelic Rock that have quite a trippy feel to them. The vocals from Mikey are influenced by the classic sounds of Desert/Stoner Metal and puts in a commanding performance with the right amount of determination and grit.

The lyrics and music are inspired by bands such as Kyuss, Monster Magnet and Fu Manchu. This allows Weight Of The World to be quite a complex and progressive heavy affair and Black Atlas thrive on this. As Black Atlas treat you to a collection of great songs that should sound spectacular on the LIVE STAGE.

My only complaint of the album is the second half stumbles here and there but the final two songs on the album – Preacher and Piece By Piece – sees Black Atlas return to form with some of the best riffs contained on the album.

Black Atlas sound like a band that are about to release their 6th or 7th album and not their debut album. The band may have Weight Of The World on their shoulders but this album may just prove that Black Atlas deserve their shot playing with the more established bands within the UK Sludge/Stoner Metal scene.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

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