Black Arc - The Coast as Cover

  by Andy Vincent

published: 4 / 4 / 2008

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Review

Despite the press release talking about band members' previous efforts Fony and Hiding Place for a full three paragraphs and having some semblance to both these bands in small areas of their music, Black Arc are an entirely different entity with a different musical “purpose.” The band's debut EP opens with its title track, 'The Coast as Cover', which starts as it means to go on with an atmospheric but paced tune and a strong vocal from Fraser, which perfectly fits with the style of music on show here. The rest of the tracks develop on the power of the first; there are sections that remind me of the more recent Thrice efforts alongside instances that reflect Cave In’s 'Antenna' album ('Burning Times' stands out here) – I definitely give both those references in a positive way. It's the kind of experimental rock music that makes an agoraphobic want to go outside and enjoy themselves. Black Arc have also got some meaty riffs that hark back to its members times in their musically heavier previous outfits. 'P.S' literally grabs you by the head and shakes you around. It’s bound to be a crowd favourite, yet with this balls out approach none of the atmospherics I mentioned earlier are lost. They do this too damn well. In a time where British music is ever more polarised between jangly indie and Americanised pop punk, it’s fantastic to hear a band that sit so well with the few other fantastic guitar bands we’ve got going on who create intelligent yet highly listenable music. Well done, Black Arc.

Track Listing:-

1 The Coast As Cover
2 Down
3 Burning Times
4 P.S.
5 Shields