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Black Water Rising: Pissed and Driven
Black Water Rising: Pissed and Driven
(Melodic) Heavy Rock/Metal
3.5/5.0
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Metalville Records
by Craig Hartranft, 08.01.2013
Rumbling out of Brooklyn, New York, is the heavy rock juggernaut Black Water Rising with their second effort Pissed and Driven. Surprisingly, but not unexpected in the music business, it's five years since their self-titled debut.
Black Water Rising: looking calm now.
Black Water Rising is another example of a band which blurs the line between hard rock and heavy metal, possibly leaning more to the latter. But the operative word to describe this album is definitely 'heavy,' if merely in it's overall tone thanks to the d-tuning. Sometimes the heaviness is nearly monolithic in some songs, like All Gone or Last Man Standing, overwhelming most every other element within.
It gets less oppressive and redundant and so much better when BWR kicks in some strong rock groove like on The Allure of Self Destruction, Show No Mercy, or the title cut. It also gets some relief when there's some ripping guitar work as with Fire It Up and Broken Man. But that song like many others could border on stoner rock, just heavier. Then in the near to worst case scenario is the song Along for the Ride which combines heaviness with a grueling pace. It's a ride you want to get off of. Essentially, Black Water Rising seems to be after one thing: being a thumping heavy rock band that rolls over you like a dump truck filled with uranium. If that's your thing, you'll dig this album.
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In Short
Black Water Rising seems to be after one thing: being a thumping heavy rock band that rolls over you like a dump truck filled with uranium. If that's your thing, you'll dig this album.
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