Review by Darren Smith for MPM
Formed in 2018 in North Hertfordshire, Electric Black are a four piece who released their debut album “The Calm Before” in late 2019, only to find, like so many other bands, that their touring plans to promote said release were destroyed by the storm that rolled in from nowhere called Covid-19.
A year later, and after signing to WDFD Records in early 2021, the band are ready to get back on the horse as such and are sewing some early seeds for post lockdown shenanigans with the launch of a new single “Homecoming”.
The song, which is about the highs and lows of being in a touring rock band follows hot on the heels of some mighty fine releases so far this year. Quite clearly, with the high quality singles and albums that are being thrown our way, if 2020 was a year to forget, then 2021 is going to be a year to remember and with “Homecoming”, Electric Black are making sure they are going to be a major part of what is shaping up to be a fantastic year for every rock music lover.
With the band citing influences from Bad Company to Rival Sons and to Black Stone Cherry, I was eager to give this track a good listen as those bands all hit the spot for me. Boy, was I glad I did as what the band have released in “Homecoming” is nothing short of a really bluesy, almost southern rock inspired masterpiece.
As the track kicked in, I was awestruck at the exquisiteness of the guitar tone and the emotion in Jonny Bryant’s playing. To coin a phrase from a famous song, he really does make that guitar “gently weep”. Tack that along-side the vocal performance from Alistair Sciach, who really gives 100% of his heart and soul throughout as he sings lines from deep within such as “shovelled shit, trying to catch our break” and “treading water in these turning tides” and it quickly becomes a “wow” moment.
As I sat listening, over and over again, I could think of more than a handful of bands, who, if they had written this gem, would have had it as a staple part of their live sets for the last, 30 or 40 years. It was like I was sitting, bearing witness to a future iconic classic rock track of the future, as it sprung into life in front of me.
After just over 2 minutes, the poetic, elegant, balletic number has its brakes taken off and accelerates full speed into a barnstorming rocker as a raunchy, crunching guitar riff comes rifling out of the speakers. Magnificent only just covers it. The rip-snorting pace of the next two minutes really gets your heart racing before the brakes are slowly eased back on to allow the track to play out in the same bluesy, soulful, beautiful vein that it started.
As the heart wrenching guitar, fills the airwaves I took a moment to consider the epic quality of what had just played out in front of me and all I could do was hit play again, and again, and again, and again. Once you have heard it, I think you might just do the same.
The band, who have recently released a video to the single which was premiered exclusively on the New Wave Of Classic Rock You Tube page, have put in a blistering performance as support to Kris Barras on a recent New Wave of Classic Rock Webfest show and have plans afoot for post lockdown life.
These include support slots with Twister, Scarlet Rebels and Gorilla Riot, along with some festival shows and headline gigs of their own. If the quality of “Homecoming” is anything to go by, 2021 looks like being a busy and eventful year for Electric Black and I am sure by the end of it, they will be able to look back on it and think, wow, what a success that was.
Electric Black are
Alistair Schiach – Lead vocals and rhythm guitar
Jonny Bryant – Lead guitar and backing vocals
Ryan Trotman – Bass guitar and backing vocals
Matt Butler – Drums
Electric Black Online
Website – www.electricblack.co.uk
Facebook – www.facebook.com/ElectricBlack
Twitter – www.twitter.com/ElectricBlack3
Instagram – www.instagram.com/electric_black
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Twlnq0zf4Yd49lHBIYL4