The Kentucky-based band, featuring Chris Robertson (lead vox/guitar), Ben Wells (guitar/bkg vox) and drummer John-Fred Young (drums/bkg vox), are joined for the first time on an album recording by “new” bassist, Steve Jewell Jr..

Okay. There it is – the eighth studio album by Black Stone Cherry. My expectations were very mixed after the rather soft and mellow COVID-19 filler ‘Human Condition’. That album seemed more suited for the pop-chart corner than for the rock audience. Too much mush, too much syrup, too much harmony. Way too fewer edges, way too less roughness. And a creepy cover of E.L.O.’s ‘Don’t Bring Me Down’. And my concerns escalated further when they released a cover of ‘What’s Love’ upon Tina Turner‘s passing. Especially when they had proven on ‘Back to Blues’ that they can do covers much better when it’s a music style that suits them. Well, what about Chris, Ben, Steve, and John Fred? They really deliver, and how!

Bold! Massive! Heavy! Bluesy! Awesome vocals, Chris‘ voice, screaming guitar solos, solid bass lines, and you can vividly imagine John Fred Young pounding on his drum kit. Anyone who has seen Black Stone Cherry live will know what I’m talking about. Yet, the choruses are made for singing along. There are always slow, quieter passages, only to hit the gas pedal again afterward. All the way to the floor!

It’s a true back-to-the-roots album, reminiscent of the good old Black Stone Cherry albums like ‘Family Tree’ or ‘Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea’. It goes boom boom again, and there’s nothing to complain about.

The first song, also the title track, makes it clear right away what’s going on. With ‘When The Pain Comes’, the theme of pain reappears, which has been with the band for a while. But it’s far better than ‘I’m In Love With The Pain’ from the previous album. ‘Show Me What It Feels Like’ is the first song that slows the pace a very little without losing its rough edges, staying heavy without becoming poppy. Only ‘Here’s To The Hopeless’ is the slightly too soft ballad for the album in my eyes, but it’s not a bad song by any means. Yeah, call me a speed song freak.

‘Smile World’ with some soul sounds in the background and a driving rhythm is simply a great song. And so it continues… one earworm after another that sticks. The 12 songs are diverse, and there’s no room for boredom. The album finds a fitting conclusion with ‘You Can Have It All’ as the 12th song. The combination of Chris Robertson‘s voice, Ben Well‘s guitar play, Steve Jewell Jr.‘s bass lines and John Fred Young‘s drum play gives you a perfect music experience. Perfectly mixed and produced.

Album cover design is a little artsy and colourful, somehow different. But everybody got his own taste.

‘Screamin’ At The Sky’ is a fantastic Black Stone Cherry album that doesn’t have any weak spots – we can already look forward to the hopefully upcoming tour!

Links