BLACK DIAMONDS – No-Tell Hotel (2021)
‘No-Tell Hotel‘ is the fourth album from Swiss rockers BLACK DIAMONDS and marks the follow-up to their 2017 release ‘Once Upon a Time’. With this recording, the band, which was founded back in 2004 by singer Mich Kehl and bassist Andy Barrels, hit the spot of the international audience for the first time.
‘No-Tell Hotel’ is a kick-ass rock ‘n’ roll album which brings back the attitude of the Sunset Strip of 1986, while musically it’s a varied showcase for the band’s musicality ranging from party-ready melodic tunes to sharp hard rockers.
The band’s extensive overseas tours and Festival appearances have certainly done them good though as this record shows not only a new maturity of songwriting but also shows that some of those great fellow European bands they’ve toured with might have added a little to their collective pot.
Opener and the title track ‘No Tell Hotel’ is a song that instantly grabs you and tells you Black Diamonds is back – it’s hooky as hell and sports a wonderful melody line.
‘Evil Twin’, with it’s infectious chorus and great mix of guitar and vocal harmonies – that reminds you of a mix of bands as diverse as Crazy Lixx, Crashdiet and H.E.A.T. A lot of fun with its sinister-type vocals from both lead singer/rhythm guitarist Michael Kehl and bassist Andi Fassler add to the Jekyll and Hyde dynamic and work oh so well.
‘Lonesome Road’ follows – a song which you at first feel might come a little quickly for a stripped back number: but though its opened by acoustic and sounds like its heading for lighter-waving ballad territory it amps up into something more electric and interesting. It inhabits the sort of territory you’d imagine The Georgia Satellites would if they’d been a Hair Metal band I love it.
‘Forever Wild’ adds a modern Euro-styled sleazy rock as has that same wonderful vibe as ‘Evil Twin’ but it’s slicker, catchier and pure gold. A highlight. Though hang on a minute ‘Saturday’, is really cool too starting with handclaps and some lovely guitar it’s a smooth Sunset Strip sing-along that steers towards the Poison end of the street.
‘Anytime’ is a moody ballad, replete with lush melodies and beautiful guitar. It’s a song I kept returning to, in order to pick up on all the intricacies. While the piano is present throughout the song, the producer makes the wise decision to bring it to the forefront at key points in the song, namely the second verse/bridge to the chorus as well as the ending of the song. Beautiful stuff.
‘The Island’ kicks us back into high gear – a nice breezy ‘blue sky’ rockers to put the pedal down to; whilst ‘My Fate’ adds a real swagger and wonderful harmonies; and ‘Hand In Hand’ comes as a second ballad, and one this time that does tick that final box.
On an album you really don’t want to stop ‘Reaching For The Stars’ adds some grit and a darker edge that really suits the band, and that grittiness is kept for ‘Turn To Dust’ which has all the attitude you need and a great chorus to make it another firm favourite.
The final say goes to ‘Outlaw’ which you will either love or hate, or if you’re like me it will just leave you wondering ‘why?’ – ostensively a ‘outlaw/highwayman ditty’ it has a folky sing-along thrust and a little of The Wildhearts in the melody. Presumably it’s just a bit of fun as it’s completely out of place.
‘No-Tell Hotel’ is a pretty killer CD and a marked improvement for Black Diamonds in terms of style, ambition, and catchy melodies. The album is so good that you want to press ‘repeat’ on almost every song.
Highly Recommended
01. No-Tell Hotel
02. Evil Twin
03. Lonesome Road
04. Forever Wild
05. Saturday
06. Anytime
07. The Island
08. My Fate
09. Hand In Hand
10. Reaching For The Stars
11. Turn To Dust
12. Outlaw
Mich Kehl – Vocals / Guitars
Andi Barrels – Bass / Vocals
Manu Peng – Drums / Vocals
Chris Blade Johnson – Guitars / Vocals
Pre Order:
www.amazon.co.uk/No-Tell-Hotel-Black-Diamonds/dp/B08SNZNPWH
