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Blackwater James: Vol. 1 (EP)

Hard Rock

3.5/5.0

Independent/Self-promotion
Website Facebook Twitter MySpace
by Craig Hartranft,  02.07.2011

Following the crackin and kick ass 2009 self-titled debut, Nashville's Blackwater James gives glimpse of coming attractions with their new EP Vol. 1. The torrid and blistering hard rock that envelopes anything from GnR to STP and Black Crowes to Silvertide remains steady and true. The opener and first single, Blackheart, is signature Blackwater James: gutsy and gritty American hard rock at rumbling pace invigorated by catchy hooks and fret fireworks. Burn This City Down, Set It Off, and Closer to Free show Blackwater can rock hard and give a song some real melodic accessibility. Feel Your Way offers a more southern, bluesy, but still heavy edge, but I could have passed on it. Nevertheless, Vol. 1 finds Blackwater James in fine form and in their groove; it's a solid and predictable, in the very best sense, set of American hard rock tunes. For fans, however, they're probably wishing they had an LP worth of tunes.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Vol. 1 finds Blackwater James in fine form and in their groove; it's a solid and predictable, in the very best sense, set of American hard rock tunes.

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By now it's old news. Everybody in the prog universe knows: Dream Theater got the band back together. Drummer and founding member Mike Portnoy returned to his Dream Theater family to celebrate their 40th ... [ Read More ]