The Black Angels - 'Passover' (Light In The Attic) Released 09/10/06

Austin quintet The Black Angels deliver 'Passover', an album of Native American Drone 'n' Roll. Heavily influenced by 60's psychedelia, the 10 track debut has a modern darker edge and deals with big issues such as the Iraq war, they take influences from the past and create something new with the experiences they've had.

The five misfits that make up The Black Angels are kindred spirits and all grew up in unusual homes, this has inspired them to create music that's poles apart from anything else in on the scene today. Taking their name from a quote by painter Edvard Munch, "Illness, insanity and death are the black angels that kept watch over my cradle and accompanied me all my life", the monicker perfectly reflects the bands refusal to slot into any fashionable pigeonhole, much like the artist himself.

The whole album is heavily influenced by The Velvet Underground, but also has a Joy Division feel to it with the dark, echoing guitar sounds on tracks like 'Prodigal Sun' and 'Manipulation'. There's also an ever-present droning organ and strangely, singer Alex Maas' vocals sound almost identical to those of Clinic's frontman Ade Blackburn on most tracks. Some of the songs can feel like they're dragged out with most of them loitering for at least five minutes, but 'Better Off Alone' and 'Bloodhounds On My Trail' are shorter and sharper, they also give more of a rock 'n' roll impression and lift the whole album to another level. 'Young Dead Men' and 'The First Vietnamese War' both deal specifically with the war in Iraq, where bassist Christian Bland lost a friend. He feels it is important for us to learn from our past mistakes and says the songs are "our history lesson to anyone who will listen..."

This is an important and stunning debut, combining songs that have depth both lyrically and musically with a passion for creating something new and bold. These songs are sure to sound amazing live and will absorb any open-minded audience.