ALBUM REVIEW: Melodoria – Black Map

BLACK MAP return for their latest record, Melodoria. With the weight of a pandemic behind them, this record is a bold turn into new territories for the trio, with influences coming in slightly unexpected forms and promising ventures into new waters.

Burnout (Do You Mind?) feels lyrically very relatable in its wavey, heavy dream state. Given last couple of years we’ve all had, the record as a whole tried to tackle the complicated feeling of distance and the itch to be creative. The title itself alludes to something rising from nothing, and this record is clearly the artistic expression of BLACK MAP’s desire to create in the void of global lockdowns.

While this is definitely a BLACK MAP record that you can recognise, there’s also a definite shift into some different styles. The Wires has a nice grunge influence in it, and the kind of sound you wouldn’t necessarily expect from BLACK MAP. It is nice to see a band keep to a heavier sounding rock style without having to always conform to what’s previously been established. Likewise, songs like Capture The Flag and Madness have a sense of grandeur and spatial opening into something almost psychedelic in places. There’s a definite heaviness still present, and it’s a trait that has solidified this band for a long time, however there’s definitely more of an interesting dynamic to it.

Witching Hour is much more up tempo and has an air of TWENTY ONE PILOTS about it. However, in the slower moments of this and songs like Left For Dead, BLACK MAP takes on the feeling of bands like YAWNING MAN mixed with a good amount of desert rock without devolving into anything cheesy. The groove rides heavy, and it’s evident that melody is still the key component in making their music.

There are a few more generic songs in there in the way of Super Deluxe and Nothing Over Me. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with them, but there are no boundaries being pushed past and they fall into a very tried and tested structure that BLACK MAP has already worked in before. Many who enjoy old school BREAKING BENJAMIN, SHINEDOWN and the like will appreciate them still, but they might not be the most captivating parts of this record.

Highlights are without doubt the first and last songs, bookending this record as the strongest contenders of the bunch. Both are confident and competent, while bringing different feelings to the table. Chasms kicks off the overall tone and is a really strong start with screeching, bending guitars and stomping, chugging rhythms. The melancholy, unearthly post-rock elements of Melodoria are the right tone to finish off this record. Your heart will pull in just the right way, that tender progression and commitment to the almost droning guitars as they echo out and layer up to a massive climatic middle which finally simmers down into a place of satisfaction.

Overall, BLACK MAP have managed to incorporate more post-rock soundscapes, desert rock heaviness and even some unexpected grunge influences into their music. This, their fifth release, shows some promising growth. It’s doesn’t always hit the mark, but Melodoria overall is an engaging record for heavy rock fans.

Rating: 7/10

Melodoria is set for release on February 18th via Minus Head Records.

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