How would you describe Birmingham`s quartet Black Bombers, who like those unique pieces that are constructed in this second city`s jewellery quarter are nigh on undiscovered gems. A delightful blend of Post Punk / Garage Rock and Rock’n’roll . The group release their second full length album `Vive La Révolution` this month.
This latest long player follows on from the band’s previous releases with 2016’s eponymous debut long player, 2019’s Vol 4 mini-album and their three limited edition 7” singles: ‘Crazy’, ‘Rush’ and ‘Last Bite’, the last of which introduced new guitarist Steve Crittall, expanding the original proto-punk power trio to a full-on full-power quartet.
The band have amongst their ranks, a former member of seminal Birmingham garage band TV Eye and Class of 77 punks The Prefects, drummer Dave Twist who was also a member of The Hawks alongside Stephen Duffy, recording several albums with Hawks bandmate Dave Kusworth. Darren Birch who was the bassist in notorious Birmingham sleaze-rockers Gunfire Dance, signed to Island and produced by The Damned’s Brian James and Rat Scabies. He also played, alongside Steve Crittall, in The Godfathers and backed ex-Heartbreaker Walter Lure on several tours. Guitarist/vocalist Alan Byron also fronts shadowy Western Noir band Horsefeathers while Steve Crittall has toured supporting David Bowie as a member of The Name, crisscrossed America as a UK Sub and also currently plays with Alvin Gibbs’ Disobedient Servants.
We are introduced to this opus with `No Pity` which races along with a sweltering wall of controlled noise. There`s a nigh on frustration in the vocal delivery, along with some manic laughter, and guitar riffs aplenty. A leading, driving, thumping drumbeat that builds up to a crescendo or climax. A track that questions our life choices and will we be ready when action is required politically and possibly physically. We have a more thoughtful reflective edgy submission with `Everything Is Ruined` although it retains a powerful presence with a guiding bass, chugging and skewed guitar chord riffs and a pounding drumline
`Pretty Boy` has a rhythmic pulsing hypnotic beat with at times resonating goth like guitar chords. A number that exudes a dangerous almost threatening aura. I thought `Loose Lips` was a one hundred and twenty one second pounding foot tapper.
`Last Bite` has a wonderful dystopian feel with shimmering guitar riffs and vocals that range from a whisper almost to a scream. Some quite superb, absorbed guitar chord riffs are bobbing at the surface on `Good Times Gone` which may well be about looking for inspiration or guidance and reminded me a little of The Damned`s early ventures like `New Rose`.
`What Do You See?` is wonderfully melodic and shows that The Bombers can create something that`s just as thoughtful, engaging, and reflective with a quieter, gentler and almost fragile soundscape. We have a withering diatribe on the government`s handling of the covid pandemic with `The Price` where there`s plenty of venom and anger in the vocal delivery.
`Sometimes` is a no nonsense rock out and gains a further intensity as Alan’s pleading almost crying vocals come crawling, scrambling in. Do we ever need an excuse for a cover of a David Bowie song?? It`s a no from me and `Boys Keep Swinging` from the nearly forty five years old Lodger album gets `Bombered`, need I say more. The song`s concept is of gender identity, featuring various gender-bending lyrics. Bowie himself stated that the song was full of irony. We all wanna let our inner Bowie out and the boys certainly do that with its pounding drums; throbbing bass and grinding guitar licks, a cracker to close this album out on.
This is another marvellous offering from these boys. A superb mix of thought provoking, intimidating, unnerving garage rock, post punk, rock n roll, rockabilly psyche delivered to us by some gifted musicians.
If you’re looking to invest in an album this year, this one will certainly fit the bill and will not disappoint.
Birmingham is known as the stronghold of metal, but these fellas are the Brummie Bastions of Rock n Roll.
Pinching and amending a line from the late Gil Scott Heron, “ You will not be able to stay still, brother, get hold of a copy and listen as `Vive La Révolution` will not be televised.”
`Vive La Révolution` is a real delicious disturbance of noise and noisy excitement and should come with a sticker that says `Handle with Care`.
Rating 9.5/10
