Trying to search for reviews about this album just to educate myself on this post punk, sludge metal album, I just got more confused with the descriptions given by other writers, I mean what the hell I’m supposed to get from descriptions such as “guttural ugliness”, ok I have to admit, I’m a bit ignorant about this sort of music (This is not the first time I admit my lack of knowledge, I don’t know if that is a nice honest statement or I’m just ruining my reputation…do I even have a reputation?).
I’m going to try and keep this simple, because the music created by this Portland band is not simplistic at all; let’s begin with something many if not all musicians hate, but it is the only way to begin painting a picture of what this band sounds like, a so much hated comparison, and what band sounds like this guys, well from my experience…none and since I don’t listen to punk I can’t really compare it to any band from that genre, so they are pretty much “unique” if you ask me but some other writers mentioning names like “The Jesus Lizard” as a good reference for Black Elk, so if you know of that band then I guess you will have a point of reference. After shredding the possibilities for me to compare this album to anything that I have heard before, let’s begin our tour through Black Elk.
Every song on this debut album possesses a very muddy, very catchy riff flowing through different tempos and rhythms that even when splitting from each other, end up building a nice fusion of tunes that keeps you interested and stomping your feet to the beat of every track.
The album starts with some noise like guitar riffs than grow as the seconds go by to finally blast into a fast and sharp song guided by the unique guitar effects and a hardcore oriented vocal work, “Toggle” is an energetic track that has some of those muddy sludge riffs and rhythms but gains momentum thanks to a very aggressive hardcore interpretation. “My Lil'” continues with those muddy guitars but injecting a more punk like vocals, as well as some shriek like screams, “Toss You To The Wolves” has that same punk “attitude from the previous track but the riffs are a bit thicker in this one, the tempos vary remaining heavy at all times, but slowing the pace just to gain momentum and attack one more time.
“Eyebone” is perhaps the most variant track on Black Elk, going from, fast to slow and gloomy as well as pist of, this track could probably be the best to capture the essence of the band.
There were times when I question if this album was really metal, and this mostly because of the fact that there is such a big amount of punk in every song that one may consider it post punk, but the reality is that those guitars are way too heavy for punk or even hardcore, this is a psychedelic metal album no more no less; if you are looking for something refreshing as well as unique give this guys a try.
