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Black Swan: Generation Mind
Black Swan - Generation Mind Album Art

Black Swan: Generation Mind

Melodic Metal Rock
4.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 11.04.2022 | Released: 08.04.2022

A great many bands are created featuring significant musicians of a genre, with longevity and success in mind, only to become one-off wonders. Black Swan, comprised of Robin McAuley (McAuley Schenker Group), guitarist Reb Beach (Winger, Whitesnake), bassist Jeff Pilson (Foreigner, The End Machine), and drummer Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Mr. Big) may not be one of them. Formed before the pandemic, the quartet released their debut album to much acclaim. Now, post-pandemic (sort of) the band makes their return with Generation Mind, once more on the Frontiers Music label.

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Black Swan

Black Swan are hardly youngsters in terms of age (McAuley is pushing 70 years old), but the band members, individual and collectively, know how to created classic melodic music. With Black Swan it's that traditional hybrid (or crossover, if you want to use more modern lingo) of melodic metal with hard rock groove and more than a little AOR nuances. As with the past album, I found the essential element of most any Black Swan the fine blend of riffs and rhythm section. Reb Beach brisk and assertive riffs combined with thorough groove of bass and drums is the engine that drives each song. This trio put the cylinders into Black Swan's V8 power. That's not to say that they play blistering power rock or metal, just songs with classic and necessary rock groove. Also, and once again, Reb Beach roars with some fiery solos. Not to pass over McAuley, but like not-so-young rockers such as Ronnie Atkins, he's got all the determination and talent to sound melodic and somewhat gritty at the same time.

So, on to some song samples. For things more fast and heavy, tune into Long Way Down and She Hides Behind. Alternatively, Crown and Generation are heavy in the riffs and thumping in the rhythm section while still aiming for melodic groove. Synths find their way into Miracle, but the song remains as a solid rocker. As does Eagles Fly, which is another sample of fine hard groove rock and offers a prominent bass line. All said, Black Swan's Generation Mind is another substantial platter of melodic metal rock, perhaps a bit heavier in parts, but rockin' all the same. Recommended.




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The Take Away

All said, Black Swan's Generation Mind is another substantial platter of melodic metal rock, perhaps a bit heavier in parts, but rockin' all the same. Recommended.

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