Black Mountain (Jagjaguwar) Released 14/02/05

Despite the ominous looking black album sleeve which is more akin to a death metal band, Black Mountain’s eponymous debut album is a mesmerising opus that is guaranteed to leave you thinking.

Within the eight epic tracks, the Vancouver five-piece have a clear agenda. In their cannon they comment on today’s apprehensive, ‘climate of fear’ culture and also reflect on almost mythical calmer and more enlightened times. Importantly, it’s a concept album that’s mercifully devoid of bombast and pretension. Musically, they clearly hark backwards as on their fascinating sonic journey they manage to sound like a host of rock behemoths from days gone by – Black Sabbath, the Rolling Stones and Can to name but a few.

The main success of the album, however, is its diversity and unpredictability. The stand out track ‘Heart of Snow’, for example, begins as a heart wrenching ballad with joint lead singer Amber Webber’s sad refrain genuinely stirring emotion within the listener. However, as the track sprawls out, the verses are bracketed by a crescendo of ominous guitars, before building to a marching, confident finale complete with military drums.

Elsewhere, Amber’s poignant vocals perfectly complement main man Stephen McBean’s bluesy refrain. Opener, ‘Modern Music’ is a joyous Americana waltz and is a perfect showcase for the juxtaposing vocals. On the track the band dexterously condemn modern music proclaiming “We Can’t stand your modern music, we feel afflicted” – obviously they’re much more attuned with being retro, and they do it so well you can’t really knock them.

Quickly changing their direction, ‘Don’t Run Our Hearts Round’ is a Zeppelin-esque rock monster with mammoth riffs. Conversely the simple and frankly gorgeous ‘No Satisfaction’ is eerily similar to Neco-era Velvet Underground. ‘No Hits’, an attack on the superficiality of modern culture, even manages to throw Kraftwerky synths into the mould. Yet the most affecting tracks are the grandiose ‘Set Us Free’ and the ultimate track ‘Faulty Times’ - which together with brooding and apocalyptic music have incredibly poignant lyrics. On ‘Set Us Free’ McBean pleads; “The war machine keeps on rolling, evil minds and hearts of stone… lord won’t you set us free?”, while on the final track he succinctly surmises; “Nobody likes your ****ed up plans of shooting up some foreign land”. Indeed. 

Thought-provoking and intelligent, you’d be a fool to pass ‘Black Mountain’ by.