Black Country Communion, IV, A Review (2017)

Black Country Communion, IV, A Review (2017)

By: Ghost Writer

Rock N Roll Animal

For some reason I have been reviewing lots of Glenn Hughes records recently (California Breed, featuring also Jason Bonham was one of them), I guess Hughes is a really busy man (just consider his amazing musical resume), a restless man not so over hyped and burned out like some of his contemporaries, Hughes is in his best musical shape ever these days, still hungry enough to make some great records; his most recent adventure, a new record with supergroup Black Country Communion (a band he fronted a couple of years ago, broke up under touring tensions with some members, but apparently has resurrected) with enough power and energy to stand against the loudest hard rock of the day, as soulful and raw as contemporary blues records (British blues legend John Mayall recently recorded a new album), and with enough rock pedigree to get near the classic rock tag, consider that Hughes (a one time member of the legendary Deep Purple and of the mighty Black Sabbath) companion here are legendary blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa (playing here as loudest as he has ever played), a really hardcore blues rock player who loves thunderous volume, veteran ace keyboardist Derek Sherinian (remember Dream Theater?), and the powerful Jason Bonham, son of the legendary Led Zeppelin drummer John “Bonzo” Bonham, if that wasn’t enough to wake some hard rock appetite inside you, you must be dead, with Hughes and Bonamassa sharing the vocal duties (like Hughes did in DP with today´s Whitesnake mogul David Coverdale), IV is a really strong record, better recorded and sounding than Afterglow (its predecessor), with standout performances especially those by Bonamassa and Bonham, just check out opener and aptly titled Collide (first single, Led Zeppelinesque with undeniable Bonhamesque drums), surely a good description of the mystical forces each member is able to conjure, Hughes, as always is a monster of rock god on vocals, his bass, fighting a mighty battle of riffs with Bonamassa´s hard edged guitars, and if that wasn’t enough, young Bonham is all over the place, his family´s trademark kick drum is as epic and loud as ever, standing fiercely against Bonamassa´s ear piercing solos.

But this time the band is not only into sheer brutality, but also into almost pop perfection, as the catchy radio ready Over My Head is able to prove, with an outstanding vocal performance by Hughes who is able to soar high as he used to do decades ago and a start-stop groove perfect anchored by Bonham musical experience and virtuosity, an impossible to miss infectious song with perfect chorus I have been singing for a couple of days, and of course and amazing tension on strings built by Bonamassa, whose influence is strongly felt on the soulful The Last Song for My Resting Place ( a song about a violinist on the Titanic, written completely Bonamassa), featuring also his amazingly passionate vocals which remind me a lot of the aforementioned Coverdale, the song featuring some extra strings is a master piece on its own, and Bonham comprehensive drumming, in great synchrony with Hughes high precision bass is perfect companion to Bonamassa quasi epic piece, on the next song, titled Sway, there’s a powerful Led Zeppelin/ Deep Purple influence (with Hughes and Bonham exploiting masterfully their musical roots), undeniable influenced by that amazing first wave of British proto metal, Bonham, Hughes and Bonamassa fighting with their instruments as fiercely as ever with Sherinian´s keyboards rounding up the picture nicely, Bonamassa seeking and finding the perfect spaces for delivering some truly mind-blowing screaming solos.

I´m not exactly enthusiast about slow burner The Cove, a song written by Hughes about the killing of dolphins, but the themes get a broad chance for Sherinian to create awesome psychedelic atmospheres, and also gives enough space for another awesome discharge of Bonamassa´s solos, and although I´m really blown away by the hard rocking The Crow, the main bass and guitar riff reminds me a lot of a song by Rage Against the Machine, making it almost surreal to listening to it played by Bonamassa, all this while Bonham plays a mean bone crushing drums all over the song on the most over the top, red heat moment in the record, the strategy of the record is obviously hit you with its best on the first songs, then, the latter cuts are a little bit lacking of energy, Wanderlust rocks and is a perfect vehicle for Sherinian´s keyboards leading the tune along some Bonamassa flashy soloing, Love Remains brings back again that Zeppelin spirit, but it somehow ets lost after the first minutes, Awake is another song with all it takes to become a powerful track but somehow these seasoned veterans lost their clue here, leaving us with another psychedelic unfocused theme named When the Morning Comes, that despise a powerful playing by Hughes, that reminds me a bit of a melody from the Stone Temple Pilots, embellished at times by Bonamassa slashing riffs, IV is a winning record full of great classic rock, Hughes keeps showing the enormous star quality he has always displayed, Bonamassa sounds fantastic in a hard rock atmosphere, while Bonham is as brutal as, ever, I must say that is Sherinian who sometimes gets a little bit lost within the thunderous sound, but when he has a chance to lead the actions, he is able to lift the whole sound of the band off the roof, this is a great record, I have been listening to it incessantly for almost a week, is addictive, is hard to writer in a couple of lines the whole amazing content of this collection of great songs, this is one of the best records I have heard in the last months, it’s a true joy listening to Hughes in such impeccable shape, been punished by Bonham´s “god of thunder” drums, and Bonamassa just keeps surprising me with each of his performances, awesome record!