ALBUM REVIEW: Anatomical Venus – Black Moth

There are some bands that somehow have never garnered large amount of attention despite being utter musical gems. One such band is BLACK MOTH who despite existing for the best part of a decade have only recently begun to make significant waves. This fact is curious as the two albums that preceded this most recent effort have both been solid doom metal with generous helpings of both psychedelic and stoner rock. After four years of studio inactivity, and with live shows and tours sporadic at best, fans of the band are treated to their best work yet in Anatomical Venus.

The record begins with Istra, one of the slowest and heaviest tracks on the record which intersperses its massive pounding riff with vocal led sections which allow the sensual voice of singer Harriet Hyde to shine through, as they do throughout the album to provide one of the bands great strengths. Towards the end of the track her vocal lines soar over the guitars and let listeners know they’re in for a treat. Moonbow follows straight on from where its predecessor left off as another mid paced track with moments of pure rock and roll including some brilliant guitar solos from both long standing Jim Swainston as well as newcomer Federica Gialanze, whose considerable talents have only strengthened an already impressive writing section.

Sisters of the Stone throws down another heavy riff to begin with before launching into a relatively fast track with galloping twin guitar riffs and socially conscious lyrics around the theme of “wronged women”, delivering a powerful message without crossing into preaching or “message before music” territory. Buried Hoards is the least heavy of the tracks on offer here with much more of a focus on a simple repetitive riff that worms its way in and which listeners will be humming for a long while afterwards. The change of pace also allows the bands other, non-metal influences to shine through and shows a level of versatility that’s required for bands to truly make it.

This slower and slightly riff repetitive nature continues on Severed Grace, which while an interesting and powerfully delivered track in its own right, especially with the use of whispered vocals leading into an emotive solo, suffers slightly for its placing on the album. This slight slowdown of the momentum is immediately reversed with the next song, A Lovers Hate however. A true rock and roll number, with an equally rock and roll theme in the ever popular lovers quarrel, not a moment of its three minute runtime is wasted as it barrels through with a riff so catchy it should be illegal.

This catchy tendency continues into Screen Queen, which also again showcases the brilliance of lyrics co-written by a poet friend of the singer. Throw a stone and you’ll hit a band that’s written a song about social media and its fundamentally fake nature, but very few of those stones will hit one as good as what BLACK MOTH has lyrically conjured here, let alone as well written musically. In contrast Tourmaline is hazy slower track, no doubt aimed at herb fans. Again the band blends the soaring vocals and heavy riff’s together to create a sound where neither overpowers the other and both receive enough time to show their worth, while not outstaying their welcome or feeling forced.

A Thousand Arrows is the last of the mid-paced tracks on the album and the penultimate track overall. Again the vocals of Harriet Hyde have the opportunity to take centre stage and the track really shows her range as well as the raw and dirty, distinctly unoperatic sensuality of her delivery which makes her performance through the record a real pleasure to listen too. The album’s closer, Pig Man, serves a dual purpose as it also provides the now traditional sexual deviation lyrical theme that the band previous releases feature, this time dealing with rural America’s fondness for both religion and bestiality. A fun track, which is both musically and vocally on a par with its peers and delightfully tongue in cheek.

Anatomical Venus is BLACK MOTH‘s best work yet, which given the high standards of their preceding two albums is high praise indeed. It’s a powerful, emotional and sophisticated records full of its own unique charm and style which is sure to appeal to fans of the many genre’s that influenced it. With studio presence like this and live performances of the highest level there is nothing stopping BLACK MOTH from reaching the very top. A band that cannot be praised enough and who are certainly one to watch in the future.

Rating: 9/10

Anatomical Venus is out now via Candlelight Records. 

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