BLACK SPIDERS – Black Spiders (2021)
Back in June of 2017, Sheffield rock beasts BLACK SPIDERS waved goodbye to an army of loyal fans with some sonically charged shows before retreating into the shadows. And then, in November of last year, with the world in the grips of the Coronavirus pandemic and after a long year of very little fun from out of the silhouettes they returned with the single ‘Fly In The Soup’, the first new Black Spiders music in 6 years. Exactly the feel-good shot in the arm the world needed, while we await that other vaccine.
Now we have the full length album, self titled “Black Spiders“, where they are rocking as hard as ever. The self proclaimed ‘dark lords of modern classic rock’ are back, and deliver a set of fun, entertaining rock n’ rollers.
It may be 4 years since the band last played, but listening to this album it’s like the intervening four years had never happened. From the opening chords of ‘Fly In My Soup’ it’s clear that Black Spiders have lost none of their groove or swagger in the downtime.
‘Stabbed In The Back’ keeps the pace up before things get slow and very heavy with ‘Wizard Shall Not Kill Wizard’ which reminds me of Sabbath’s ‘War Pigs’ which is no bad comparison to draw. Pete Spiby’s vocal delivery is spot on, sonorous and menacing at the same time which is perfect for the malevolent riff laden melody.
‘Back In The Convent’ focuses on a Catholic girls school, I think there may be some confessions required there! ‘Give ‘Em What They Want’ rocks, and leads into the band’s cover of ‘Good Times’ the old Jimmy Barnes and INXS song which they do a great job on.
The rest of the album ebbs and flows with fast paced rockers rubbing shoulders with heavy riffs and slabs of traditional metal as black as the Earl of Hell’s waistcoat. What doesn’t change though is the quality of the songwriting or the top notch musicianship which has always been a feature of the band.
Other songs of note on the album are the melodic ‘Free Ride’ with some tasty twin guitar in the chorus, the frantic ‘No Luck No Bones’ and the epic ‘Crooked Black Wings’ which rides along on a great riff with plenty of melody and harmony thrown in for good measure.
This is a great comeback album from a band not much known outside UK, but they should, as deliver fun, entertaining rock n’ roll served with passion and contagious energy.
Highly Recommended
01 – Fly in the Soup
02 – Stabbed in the Back
03 – Wizard shall not kill Wizard
04 – Back in the Convent
05 – Give Em What They Want
06 – Good Times
07 – Death Comes Creepin’
08 – Nothing Better
09 – Rock and Roll
10 – Free Ride
11 – No Luck No Bones
12 – Down to the River
13 – Crooked Black Wings
14 – Tunnel of Love (bonus track)
Pete ‘Spider’ Spiby (vocals)
Ozzy ‘Owl’ Lister (guitar)
Mark ‘Dark Shark’ Thomas (guitar)
Wyatt Wendells (drums)
Adam ‘Fox’ Irwin (bass)
BUY IT
www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Spiders/dp/B08WP3LMMG
