Release date: Out now!
It’s been a while since I was last active in the albums review section, and it feels a little weird swapping the festival rumble for the quiet, diligent listen-through of unfamiliar material. However, the change is enjoyable, and I promise it won’t last for too long. This particular feature is a little out of the ordinary—it’s neither an EP nor a split, but rather a couple of new recordings from a band explicitly trying “to steer away from the early sound of the band and into more of a classic heavy metal/classic rock sound but with a modern twist.” That is the right path forward, and since the guys were so brutally honest and bold in their review request, here I am to deliver what they asked for!
As a disclaimer, I had no clue who BLACK MERCY RIFFS were until this moment. The mandatory background check with The Metal Archives revealed they are a four-piece from Los Angeles, California (go figure), active since 2019, with one album and half a dozen singles to their credit. My first impression, based on the quantity and quality of the audio-visual material provided, is that these folks take their craft seriously. Now it’s time to look under the hood and see what’s roaring.
Review
Starting with “Easy Livin”, I couldn’t help but have a certain hard rock evergreen spinning in my head. Yup, the good old URIAH HEEP. My first priority was to chase that away and open my senses for the supposedly modern “Californication” on display.
The track kicks off with a heavy, invested guitar intro featuring a solid low-tuned flow, enthusiastically joined seconds later by intelligent, dynamic drumming. This quickly morphs into a calm background sustained by a quiet buzz, opening space for the bass line. All this serves to support the vocal part, which gently takes center stage, gradually building a statement. The vocalist playfully joins instrumental improvisations before reaching the chorus, blending in smoothly and easily with the song’s delivery—the kind of tune that makes those beautiful ladies around the bar dance along and shake their denims.
The almost default “Oooh-oooh” singalong makes “Easy Livin” sound like one of those “all-American” rock-hits you’d spend a quarter on, blasting the jukebox at the local drive-in. The unique stand-out moment here is the guitar solo, which, while short, is well-structured, doesn’t aim to steal the show, and services the high-pitched vocal finisher perfectly. One more beer, please!
Moving forward to “No Stone Unturned”, or NSU as the band refers to it, I was eager to uncover how much heavy grit has been hidden under this rock.The slightly overused trope of a thunderstorm and heavy torrent intro sets the stage for the rhythmic guitar kick-in, nicely wrapped with energizing drumming. It’s not the most genuine opener, but the vocals swiftly interfere to magnetize all the attention, carrying on as planned in a classic hard rock manner.
The vocal delivery here sounds a little superimposed over the instrumental part. This could be a byproduct of the production style or, conversely, an intentional effect to push forward some rawness and intensity. Either way, a minute and a half in, the singing circles around several modulations that correspond with the solo guitar fluctuations, resulting in a vivid kaleidoscope of musical flavors—a strong hint of artistic imagination and creative potential.
It might just be a thing in my head, but at this point, something in the way BLACK MERCY RIFFS conveys its sound strongly reminds me of INTRANCED, which is a considerable compliment by my standards. L.A. is L.A., and after all, what goes around comes around. The fluid transition toward the chorus is really spot-on, and now things start to feel complete, with the band connecting all the dots and leaving no piece behind. The solo part that follows is in tune with the flow, though it is hardly a zenith point; it’s better described as a triumphant herald for the second and final chorus (man, love the solo drumming break at the end). No surprises further on, just a slow clap of hands for the enthusiastic treatment.
Conclusion
Glory to the brave! Self-awareness is what I highly regard in any band. Missing it has led to numerous downfalls for talented artists, where ego devours the hard labor needed to make it to the top of the rock-and-roll mountain. This is in no way the case with BLACK MERCY RIFFS, and I strongly endorse them in their journey toward the heavy metal promised land. However, if we take both reviewed singles as a landmark, they are still pretty much in hard-rock territory. To keep it geographical, this is especially relevant when viewed through a European prism. Which is not a bad thing! That strong Californian flamboyance the guys demonstrate could become a powerful asset for them to get validated by more prominent names in the local scene and ultimately endure their heavy metal pilgrimage. Their image and stage appearance, judging by the video they kindly provided, are already contributing to the cause, and again—massive kudos for investing so heavily in the collateral materials. Keep on rockin’!
TheNwothm Score: 7.5 / 10
Links
Bandcamp:https://blackmercyriffs.bandcamp.com/
The Nwothm 
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