Black Bombers - Vol 4

Its 1977 and Deep Purple’s 'Machine Head' album is five summers long. I have spent the whole of my pocket money on this album, and am now listening to the opening chords of the iconic 'Highway Star'. And listening to Black Bombers’ 'Day After Day', the start of which mirrors the chord sequence, transports me back to the very first steps in my musical education. This is not to say that 'Volume 4' is a pastiche of Purple's iconic album - very far from it - but it is a musical statement that acknowledges the greats that have come before and moves forward. I think this mini album is tremendous. Production wise, it operates within a limited sonic palette, but really delivers. It’s massive and ballsy. The members of Black Bombers are really exhibiting their musical chops. Its heavy and loud, but also with a degree of nuance and subtlety. The excitement continues courtesy of these Birmingham grease-rockers with the heaveee psycho-billy stomp that is 'Relentless', which is akin to Louis Berry’s '45' with even more voltage and attitude. 'Animals n Cages' keeps up the pressure, again a familiar chord progression that enhances the anthemic quality of the song and just invites you to get slamming. It’s breakneck stuff. 'Gnarley' is again the heaviest of tracks, with some killer guitar lines and soloing; it’s an instrumental which serves as a perfect soundtrack to a life of angst. This mini-album pretty much hits the bullseye at every turn, and will delight its core contingency no end. But the sheer musical musicality will probably win over musical outliers if they know whats good for them. The axis of might that is Byron, Birch and Twist deliver in style. As their FaceBook states “Black Bombers are a Rock n Roll band from Birmingham, England”. Of course they are. Can’t wait to catch them live.