Black Country crossover thrashers Big Black Eye are one of my favourite live bands in the Midlands at the moment. Since concerts returned, they've been working hard, playing at all sorts of events, including supporting the iconic Cockney Rejects. If that wasn't enough, they're sharing a bill with Discharge next year. Not bad, eh? At the Scruffy Murphy's 20th Anniversary weekend event the other week, I was fortunate enough to get an advance copy of their new EP, recorded at Access Creative College in Birmingham. It'll be out soon, although I'm not sure when, so you'll have to take my word for it - for the time being - that it's a banger from the first minute to the last.
First track 'Hyper Violent' rips through your speakers with a thrashy guitar riff, setting a heavy vibe instantly. Stabs from the bass and drum cymbals before the song's drop give a really nice vintage-sounding feel from the off, before it kicks into an energetic punk beat with shout-along verses. Ste's vocal performance is defiant and pissed off, but he has an ear for catchy hooks that makes it harder not to sing along. The song develops into a head-bobbing midsection that builds up thrillingly, launching into a metal swing where you can see the bodies moving and jumping about in your mind's eye. After a wah-heavy guitar solo that has shades of Kirk Hammett, Big Black Eye slowly bring the song down for a false ending, then return for another final frenetic chorus and verse. It's a memorable number, and stays rent-free in your head for some time afterwards. A live staple, Big Black Eye open the EP with one of their best.
Hyper Violent (live Feb 2020)
'Monkey' is up next. After a couple of power chords to build up tension, a powerful, down-picked, thrashy section gets the pulse racing again, before a head-nodding verse, memorable with its strong, heavy groove and jaunty guitar riff. Ste seems to literally spit the lyrics out while the intensity creeps up, eventually letting loose with a punky, sing-along chorus. Clearly designed with gigs and audiences in mind, it's a fun way of engaging the listeners and crowds. After a couple of rounds, a fist-pumping section with chant-along vocal lines and melodic guitar leads keep the listener engaged, before it falls climactically into a glorious, riffy break. From the songwriter's point of view, 'Monkey' is a great example of how to build up intensity, release, then start again, but also shows their wider influences for the first time. The verses have a 90s-sounding, alt-metal vibe that goes beyond the 'typical' thrash and punk listening you may expect.
Final track 'Slumber' takes this influence further still, with chuggy grooves, an angular guitar riff and vocal lines that could almost come from the nu-metal playbook. The higher guitar tuning and shoutier vocal delivery definitely give it a sense of old-school, though, and its thrashy moments, fun sense of catchiness and hardcore-style energy have that Big Black Eye sound that we've come to expect by now. Still, there's definitely shades of Adrenaline-era Deftones or Rage Against the Machine. Swaggering verses, wavy guitar effects and a storming, dissonant breakdown make for another great track, but 'Slumber' crucially shows their true, fullest sound and their willingness to explore and experiment. In a musical sense, you could argue it's the most interesting song on offer here. Ending on a fat, bouncy breakdown and a vicious scream, you get the impression it's all come to an end too quickly...
Monkey (live Aug 2021)
'20 Years Too Late' is a really well-rounded EP. You have the fast, high-intensity energy of a song like 'Hyper Violent' that you may expect from a band in this genre, to a more exploratory tune like 'Slumber' which shows off their full sonic range - with 'Monkey' comfortably sitting in the middle of the two. It doesn't take itself too seriously, knowing its audience well. Plus, the producer captures the band's energy and extremity really well, in a way that older recordings of 'Monkey' and 'Slumber' from a few years ago didn't do as effectively. The band sound like a tight, well-oiled machine, and their command of crescendoing songs up from lower intensity to climax is masterful.
My only real criticism is the short runtime - more next time, please!
Many thanks to the guys for their constant support and for the CD. You can keep up to date with Big Black Eye on Facebook and Instagram.
For fans of Anthrax / Power Trip / Rage Against the Machine
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