ALBUM REVIEW: Deliverance – Bone Church
With a foundation standing firmly on the shoulders of rock legends. BONE CHURCH have been building a sound akin to the psychedelic proto rock greats of yesteryear. An undeniable blues strain runs through the DNA of their riffs and yet there is something wholly original and organic about their compositions. This was immediately apparent on debut album Acid Communion. A bluesy-doom strut encased a hard rock n roll heart. Clearly the Connecticut quintet is happy to wear their influences on their collective sleeve, but they also want to make an authentic mark. Album two, Deliverance is the key to unlocking this individuality and pushing themselves forward creatively.
It could be easy to dismiss a band that clearly owes it’s sound to a bedrock of bygone greats as just another hero worship doppelganger. Unable to match what has gone before, so emulates instead and therefore falls short of being truly noteworthy. Occasionally though a band or artist gets it just right. Tapping into the seam of influence for inspiration yet carving out a powerful authentic personality. BONE CHURCH have done exactly that. From the get go on the new album Electric Execution offers up a rabble rousing, chorus friendly number. Easy to latch onto as the composition feels recognisable in its structure yet entirely fresh and exhilarating. It’s no-nonsense nature perfectly setting the tone for what BONE CHURCH are going for.
Encompassing elements of horror, occult and apocalyptic struggle. BONE CHURCH explore themes more at home within the doom and heavy metal genres. Yet anthemic hooks, riffs that eat into the brain and beguiling twists allow for the perfect blend of a more sonically laid-back approach. By following a blues rock and psychedelic blue print, songs like The Sin of 1000 Heathens and Muchachoes Muchachin, have a bewitching strut. The latter offering a glimpse as to what ZZ TOP might have sounded like if they went heavier. Upon the glorious crescendo of the title track, BONE CHURCH close out with a truly memorable epic that would certainly see not only lighters in the air but air guitars aplenty. It creates that unique atmosphere of sounding like a live track from the studio. An impressive feat and undeniable showcasing the band at their soaring best.
Without a hint of second album jitters. BONE CHURCH have delivered an album dripping with swagger and confidence. Firmly established in their roots of 70s era rock n roll, there’s a menace to the bluesy riffs and rhythms they deliver. A doom edge that helps to propel their compositions to a level greater than merely copy and paste homage to artists who have gone before. With a freshness and originality to a sound that also feels very recognisable. It’ll hook in many new fans and surely see the five-piece attract wider recognition.
Rating: 8/10
Deliverance is out now via Ripple Music.
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