BLACK SPIDERS – Cvrses (2025) *HQ*

Nothing is ever easy for BLACK SPIDERS, never straightforward, there’s always a plethora of circumstances, and karma. Their last album, released in 2023, was titled Can’t Die, Won’t Die and here we are at the dawn of 2025 and they’re still not f@cking dead.
Back with a brand-new album of high-voltage smashers, the Sheffield righteous rockers are set to release their fifth effort ”Cvrses” on Dark Riders via Cargo Distribution. Featuring twelve new tracks of exactly the kind of soaring rock ‘n roll action we’ve all come to expect, love and demand from Black Spiders, their intentions are the same now as they were from the very moment they started back in 2008 – be true to yourself, no compromise.

And why is the album called Cvrses? Well, Cvrses has double meanings, on one hand it’s a supernatural punishment, invoked to do harm, and it’s also a very old English swear word. Both of these meanings ring true in every sense of the word in relation to Black Spiders. Also, ‘u’ is replaced by ‘v’, ‘five’ in ancient Roman numerals.
From the opening three crashes of the snare on opener “Never Enough” all the way through to the sombre nature of the finale “Rotten to the Core”, there is something for everyone to enjoy. You can feel the energy pumping out of the guitars of Nate Digby, James Evans and Pete Spiby, with their trademark colossal riffs, hooks and solos, and combined with the thumping bass of Adam Irwin and pounding drum sound from Wyatt Wendels, they give it their all.

“Cool Reaper” has an anthemic chorus to it, with Spiby’s distinctive vocals ensuring that this will be a crowd pleaser, and it’s in your face from start to finish. This is followed by a groovy rock track called “Sorry Not Sorry” that has a dreamy solo midway through it. This is what rock music is all about, diverse and interesting, whilst being provocative enough to pique people’s interests and the opening to “Idol Hands” is a prime example of how good Black Spiders are, which is followed up by more excellent guitar work that will keep your head bopping along.

As Black Spiders are responsible for the fabulously titled ‘KISS tried to kill me’ found on their album ‘Sons of the North’, then we shouldn’t be surprised by ‘Tom Petty’s Lips’ appearing on ‘Cvrses’. It’s upbeat and quick from the start, it will bring the bounce to a live show, especially with a chorus of “Tom Petty’s Lips need to be kissed”. It’s great fun, and has a rip-roaring solo thrown in.
In direct contrast – after the interlude “Castille de la roja” – it’s stalked by a traditional rock ballad in the form of “Dia De Muertos” (translates to ‘Day of the Dead’) which is a song worthy of a hold your lighter in the air moment. Once again, you get the band in full rock mode, encompassing all aspects of the genre in a wrapped-up bundle, with “No Superman” flying in to deliver more juicy rock riffs.

They are back to their trademark sound with “Go, an adrenaline fuelled song that leaves you unable to pause for breath. A favorite, short and punchy, with a stunning bass line from Irwin, that gives the song real purpose and vigour and feels like you’ve been drinking bottles of Jack Daniels and are in no mood to quit yet.
“Up All Night” continues the party atmosphere, with more decadent riffs and hooks, that are spilling over with impressive regularity.
Vext the short interlude title track, before “Obey” initially turns everything down several notches ahead of an explosion of sound which will have you jumping around in no time. And if you aren’t shouting the chorus in unison with Spiby, then you have no reason to be listening to this, as it’s unbelievably catchy.

Penultimate song “The Mofo Sauce” is another snappy little number which bounces along at a sufficient pace and typifies the band perfectly, before it sadly comes to an end with the aforementioned “Rotten to the Core”, which by the end, will make you sit down and reflect on what you’ve listened to, and realize how enjoyable music can be, and as we celebrate their return there’s only one proper way to rejoice, “F@ck You Black Spiders” (as the band always say themselves).

‘Cvrses’ delivers an evolved powerful sound, rich in heavy rock that incorporates a clever medley of characteristics found across genres, an album that reflects Black Spiders progression, successfully completed without the need to put one of their many legs within the mainstream camp.
All this is achieved whilst remaining honest to their original roots.
Highly Recommended

01 – Never enough
02 – Cool reaper
03 – Sorry not sorry
04 – Idol hands
05 – Tom Petty’s lips
06 – Castille de la roja
07 – Dia de muertos
08 – No superman
09 – Go!
10 – Up all night
11 – Curses
12 – Obey
13 – The mofo sauce
14 – Rotten to the core

Pete Spiby (vocals/guitar)
Adam Irwin (bass)
James Evans (guitar)
Nate Digby (guitar)
Wyatt Wendels (drums)

BUY
barnesandnoble.com/w/cvrses-black-spiders/1146876727