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Black Cat Bones: Down To The River EP
Black Cat Bones - Down To The River EP CD Album Review

Black Cat Bones: Down To The River EP

Melodic Hard/Heavy Rock
4.5/5.0

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Unsigned/Self-released
Review: Craig Hartranft
Added: 27.09.2017

Hailing from the fertile musical soil of Liverpool is Black Cat Bones, a melodic heavy rock band grinding it out in UK's underground. Formed a mere four years ago, the band has cut one EP False Promises & Wasted Time and toured with The Quireboys, Warrior Soul, Tygers of Pan Tang, and most recently with Massive and Tequila Mockingbird in support of their new EP Down To The River.

Black Cat Bones Band Photo

Black Cat Bones

On the first spin, my first impression of Black Cat Bones is that they sound like an English version of Guns N Roses. They sure have the look. But BCB is heavier, perhaps a bit bluesier, than that seminal American band and, as a vocalist, Jonnie Hodson sounds better than that other guy. But comparisons and personal opinions aside, Black Cat Bones rocks hard and heavy, yet with an abundance of harmony, melody, and groove. In one sense, the band and their tunes are heavily guitar forward. Using twin guitars, these Cats deliver sharp and heavy, yet harmonious riffage. Then Alan Rimmer and Adam Kerbache deal out some blistering solos. Hodson is a classic rock vocalist, singing clean and strong, but also carrying the melody and harmony of each song. The power to propel Black Cat Bones comes from a thundering rhythm section that keeps the groove both primal and steady.

As for the songs, they all deliver the hard and heavy melodic rock. More heavy steadiness comes with Seen Better Days, The River, and Lust, where all three songs combine sharp riffs and a deep bottom groove with a grinding determination informed by some latent blues. The River is a bit more subtle at times with these elements, especially with the low breakdown in the latter third, but it's a real groove monster. I found Give You The World and Devil You Know a bit more lively and up beat. Devil You Know is definitely more rowdy and brawling with its crisp rock groove and brisk solos. It's also a fine example of a song where Hodson's voice accentuates the inherent melody, harmony, and beat of the song. It was easily my favorite song here. Though brief, at less than 23 minutes, Black Cat Bones' Down To The River is a fine and entertaining EP of classic, hard and heavy, melodic rock, sure to please fans of the same everywhere. Get it, easily recommended.

No Video Suppllied by the Band


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The Bottom Line

Though brief, at less than 23 minutes, Black Cat Bones' Down To The River is a fine and entertaining EP of classic, hard and heavy, melodic rock, sure to please fans of the same everywhere. Get it, easily recommended.

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