ALBUM REVIEW: II (reissue) – Black Pyramid
Evocative songwriting that fuses together elements of classic heavy metal, hard psych and progressive rock in the guise of massive down-tuned riffs sums up the self-categorised psychedelic war metal trio in BLACK PYRAMID. Hailing from Northampton, Massachusetts, the band have been an unsung mainstay in the scene for over 15 years. Ten years on from its initial release in 2012 on MeteorCity Records, the band’s sophomore album II, the last recording to feature their classic line up of Andy Beresky (guitar/vocals), Dave Gein (bass) and Clay Neely (drums), is being reissued by Labyrinth Of Thoughts. Filled with the band’s signature creativity and brooding riff sequences, II sounds just as fresh and exciting as it did back in 2012.
A mighty sonic brew consisting of epic old school metal arrangements and forays into the realms of vintage psych and progressive rock, II has everything you could possibly need to satiate an appetite for the old school style of doom. Accompanied by apocalyptic lyrics discussing the topics of war, the occult and general alienation, the album conjures up swirling imagery of adventures through a landscape of pure and bewildering strangeness. With heavy and thunderous sections contrasted with soft, delicate psychedelia, there is still a lot that this album can give you in terms of interesting dynamics and captivating songwriting. BLACK PYRAMID have always been a progressive rock leaning band, yet in II you can see the beauty in constraint in the band’s masterful songwriting. Bringing fuzz drenched, exciting technicality to slower tempos is a skill, and one that BLACK PYRAMID have mastered and excelled at.
Despite this being a reissue, it still captivates you the same way it did ten years ago. Even so, II has always felt like an exiled album, left in the darker corners of the psychedelic archives, which in some ways is ironic considering the album’s lyrical themes of alienation. Even with that in mind, it has flown under the radar of many which is rough justice for an intricate and explorative album such as this one. Reissuing II during the current resurgence of the genre is excellent timing, as a whole new wave of people can be introduced to the underrated and under-appreciated talents of BLACK PYRAMID. There is an abstract and enigmatic magic to the way the band construct their songs, as if a great wizard decided to take up art and produce Picasso/Escher hybrid paintings. Sometimes it’s surreal and sometimes it’s like exploring layers of stairs with no specific destination, but you enjoy the mind bending cosmic journey. BLACK PYRAMID are a restless band, defiantly preferring to keep moving rather than entrench themselves in any one song structure or genre convention.
Exploding out of the gates with Endless Agony, II kicks off with a flurry of intricate guitar melodies before settling into a heavy, robust stoner rock groove augmented by the aforementioned flurries. Mercy’s Bane follows suit before Night Queen takes us into the depths of old school doom, with SABBATH-esque rhythms that continually evolve and shift throughout the song, making it a dizzying experience as guitar leads swirl around you. Dreams Of The Dead is the first of two over ten-minute doom epics and sees the band double down on the heavy psych and progressive rock part of their sound. With more emotive instrumentals, this is the soundtrack to those strange dreams you have where everything and nothing happens but you’re left feeling bewildered at the end of it. Tanelorn serves as a jarring interval of jangly guitars before leading into the ominous Sons Of Chaos, a dark and brooding song packed full of dark riffing. Empty Handed Insurrection throws you into a chaotic waltz that eerily summons the evil atmospheres of black metal as harrowing melodies encircle your mind. The Hidden Kingdom is an eerie track that follows the template laid down by Night Queen but ups the ante with a haunting chorus. Album closer and second doom epic is Into The Dawn, which sounds infinitely more hopeful than the tracks that have gone before it. Incorporating classic heavy metal and doom riffs, this closer makes for an anthemic track that captures the imagination.
With the ability to write short, snapping hard psych songs alongside ten-minute or more doom epics, BLACK PYRAMID cater for all. Whether you’re an old fan rediscovering the magic of this album or a new fan discovering the band’s music for the first time, it is safe to say that II is deserving of many more plaudits than it gets and hopefully through the now increased exposure people can get lost in BLACK PYRAMID’s strangeness.
Rating: 8/10
II (reissue) is set for release on September 9th via Labyrinth Of Thoughts.
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