ALBUM REVIEW: Bed Of Nails – Florence Black
Ladies and gentlemen, presenting to you the new darlings of UK hard rock. Hailing from the former industrial metropolis of Merthyr Tydfil, FLORENCE BLACK are looking to do what both MASSIVE WAGONS and fellow countrymen THOSE DAMN CROWS have before them – smash into the UK Top Ten and garner a sizeable following through the medium of working-class, honest-to-goodness riffs and sing-alongs. So far, it’s worked well – their 2021 debut Weight Of The World was a smash hit and saw them play with some very recognisable names including STEEL PANTHER and UGLY KID JOE and they’re planning on riding that momentum further with Bed Of Nails, their sophomore album self-released on Friday February 2nd.
So much is made about the supposed ‘second album syndrome‘, with bands who had their whole lives to record and release their first record bowing to the pressure of far less time to get the second one out. If FLORENCE BLACK felt any with Bed Of Nails, they were either wholly unaffected or turned it into a creative goldmine; somehow, they’ve taken everything to the next level with a minimum of fuss.
Opening song Start Again might have been around for a number of months – it was the first single released in May of last year – but it doesn’t sound tired at all, the chorus still strong and built for arenas. In fact, all five singles still hold up – the swashbuckling Don’t Hold Me Down, the truly anthemic title track, Look Up and Warning Sign are all gigantic slabs of pristine hard rock, with the pacey, full-throttle Taxman nestled in the middle just for good measure.
Away from the more recognisable numbers, Bed Of Nails doesn’t let up at all: Warning Sign opens deceptively with a more delicate, melodic guitar riff before bringing the chugging triplets back and including another seismic chorus. The heavy blues of Solid 9 will delight anyone who’s a fan of BLACK STONE CHERRY and also the pedants for being at #9 in the track listing, while follow up Rockin’ Ring stakes a claim for being the heaviest song they’ve ever penned, the opening riff hanging in the air almost SABBATH-like before the trio take you on another rollercoaster.
Even when the band bring the tempo down, like on Beautiful Lover and the acoustic-driven closer Back To The End, the delivery is absolutely spot on, showcasing a variety that’s not only vital to avoid the pitfall of becoming one-dimensional, but also displaying a real maturity: this is a band who know they’re growing in stature and want to grow with it, a process which can mean showcasing the softer strings of a musical bow if it will allow for maximum impact. FLORENCE BLACK have recognised this, and the results are exceptional.
They might only be two albums into their career, but FLORENCE BLACK seem ready for the big time already. Their current UK tour might be taking part in some of the bigger clubs around, but Bed Of Nails is, if there’s any justice, going to push them into large academies and beyond. Their home county might boast the largest indoor climbing wall in the whole of Wales, but FLORENCE BLACK are about to scales heights even The Summit Centre can’t reach.
Rating: 9/10
Bed Of Nails is out now via self-release.
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