Review of Set Your Head On Fire Album by The Black Box Revelation
Review of The Black Box Revelation's album 'Set Your Head On Fire' released through T4Tunes on 27th April 2009.
The Black Box Revelation are Brussels based Jan Paternoster (Guitar/vocals) and Dries Von Dijck (Drums) and at the tender ages of 19 and 17 respectively, Set Your Head On Fire is a pretty impressive debut album. They've drafted in a couple of big names in the process; it was mixed by Greg Gordon (Wolfmother, Soulwax) and mastered by Fred Kevorkian (Iggy Pop, U2 and The White Stripes) and between them they have managed to produce a sound so huge that you completely forget that there are only two members of band. They already have a big following in their native Belgium, with their number one singles under their belts and have recently toured Europe with Eagles Of Death Metal - so what's all the fuss about?
Their music is back-to-basics sleazy, edgy guitar-heavy rock and roll. The lyrics are simple ensuring it's the riffs and the gritty Jagger-esque vocals that are the stars. Kicking off with the high energy noisy Love, Love Is On My Mind; they start as they mean to go on with repeating riffs and abrasive vocals. They drop the tempo showing some of their 60 bluesy style on the more melancholic Gravity Blues and Never Alone Always Together; yet still manage to keep that raw rock component. The stand out track is their previous single, the beautiful I Think I Like You. It's an almost perfect piece of dirty rock and roll. Incessant thumping drums, memorable riffs, screeching vocals and the addition of the Hammond Organ; the track is a triumph!
The Black Box Revelation are clear about their influences and are not afraid to show it, with more than just a nod towards the likes of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Stooges and The Stones throughout the record. In fact in places it can sound like emulation of these greats - it's now time for the duo to find their own identity. If can do this, and with Set Your Head On Fire as a starting point, they will no doubt achieve huge commercial success.
Rating: 7/10
Robyn Burrows
Site - http://www.blackboxrevelation.com
