ALBUM REVIEW: Black Wash – Pagan

There seems to be something in the water for Australian heavy music right now. The past handful of years have seen numerous bands of quality push through onto the international stage, shining a light to the land from down under. With that, for emerging bands to stand out and make a name for themselves, you’re going to have to have a few tricks up your sleeve. Hoping to whip up a storm, Aussie blackened rock n’ roll quartet PAGAN come charging onto the scene armed with their debut record titled Black Wash, but does this debut record offer enough to announce PAGAN to the world?

Across the eleven tracks on offer with Black Wash, PAGAN weave an elaborate musical tapestry full of upbeat tempos and a healthy side order of aggression to boot and that’s this record’s biggest strength; this is a no-holds-barred, whirlwind experience. Their fusion of black metal’s extreme musical components with the slick and sleaze of rock ‘n’ roll is something that shouldn’t necessarily work on paper, but PAGAN blend these styles with ease to create one hell of a explosive and organically fresh sound.

After a snapshot opener from intro II Malocchio Si Apre, the band really come into their stride with Death Before Disco. Swirling between moody choruses full of intricate guitar melodies from Xavier Santilli to a full-throttle chorus where the the band up the ante, PAGAN land an instant hit with just the second track on the chorus. Nikki Brumen‘s vocals are instantly impressive and the occasional deployment of blast beats is a eyebrow-raising but intriguing component to the whirlwind sound the band are forging.

Arguably the most intriguing aspect to PAGAN‘s sound is this fusion of black metal and rock ‘n’ roll and its utilisation is as subtle as it is effective. Blood Moon dives head first into black metal territory with a haunting opening thanks to the ominous guitar tones before subsiding into a whirlwind of riffing that kicks the tempo to the stratosphere whilst Imitate Me switches from soothing melodies to utter chaos as blastbeats and venomous vocals threaten to rip your face off. It’s a truly interesting dynamic edge to their sound and one that PAGAN have made their own.

For all the talk that may be focussed towards the blackened aspect to their sound, there are times where PAGAN opt to focus on delivering just solid rock ‘n’ roll and these moments are just as exhilarating as the record’s most visceral moments. Take Silver for example, a delightfully up-tempo number whereby the delicate guitar-play, steady rhythm and consistently solid vocal deliveries blend together to create one of the record’s most uplifting moments. Equally, Year of The Dog boasts some intoxicatingly catchy riffs whilst Brumen‘s vocals soar above the music from her bandmates and The Greatest Love Songs‘ slick punk edge helps the track add an extra bout of intensity to the album’s latter stages.

Whilst the instrumentation is certainly consistently strong with plenty of killer riffs dropping across the record, a light needs to be shone on Nikki Brumen‘s vocal deliveries. Bouncing off her bandmates and gelling with the music effortlessly, Brumen‘s vocals are simply outstanding across the record, switching from utterly monstrous shrieks that threaten to pierce your eardrums to passages that are laced with gravel and dirt that add a whole new level of heavy to PAGAN‘s sonic arsenal. In a band that are aiming for the jugular, it adds an extra level of class to their sound.

Black Wash is a record full of character. From its sheer musical devastation to gorgeous moments that are superbly uplifting, PAGAN have crafted an outstanding debut record and show a level of professionalism that you wouldn’t expect to find in a debut record. Moving forward, it will be incredibly interesting to see how the band push their sonics forward, but for now, bask in Black Wash‘s dynamic soundscape, it’s a wild and exhilarating ride.

Rating: 9/10

Black Wash is set for release on July 6th via Hassle Records.

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