ALBUM REVIEW: Semaphore – Black Orchid Empire

British three piece BLACK ORCHID EMPIRE has returned with their third release, Semaphore. The hard rock trio have worked hard to create a sci-fi concept album that combines hard hitting riffs with memorable melodies. The first track, Emissaries, acts as more of a scene setting instrument, creating this atmospheric sci-fi element which will be involved in all the songs to come.

The song Singularity follows, opening with bold guitar riffs and drums. Paul Visser’s vocals are then introduced, having a slightly aggressive tinge to them, whilst also having an effortless flow. The chorus that follows is tuneful and easy to sing along with, and the riff that ends each chorus is heavy hitting and attention catching. The band then brings it all down slightly, to then build to the final chorus by using, again, a really cool riff and great drum beats. The end of the song is home to a super impressive mini breakdown which features the same riff we heard at the end of the first chorus, but this time it is amped up a notch by making it slightly more complex, and the drums become even more intense.

We then move on to one of the singles from the album, Natural Selection. This band clearly loves to combine a groovy riff with heavy hitting drum beats, and it does it very well. Again, Visser’s vocals are so soft but have so much impact. The flow of this song in particular is really great, being calming whilst also holding a meaningful message behind the lyrics. The contrast of these strong riffs and drum beats with such melodic vocals creates a nice sound, being both heavier at points, and holding a soothing tune. There are parts of this album which have a bit of a RADIOHEAD vibe to them, but the riffs from both Visser on guitar and Dave Ferguson on bass, and drums from Billy Freedom really make this album and sound original.

Red Waves is a really groovy track, with the opening vocals having a bit more edge to them, and another relatively heavy riff. The drums create a nice pace for the track, speeding it up a bit more than the previous ones. Where it gets really interesting is when we reach an almost BEARTOOTH-esque breakdown, throwing the listener into some more aggressive vocals and an impactful combo of guitars and drums. Creating a contrast to the meaty breakdown we just listened to is Winter Keeps Us Warm, which opens with a slowed and stripped back vocal section with some soft guitar. This then transitions into a passionate and strong chorus, where the band has used backing vocals to add dimension and feeling. This song will definitely create such an atmospheric experience when played live.

The second to last track on the album, Monolith, launches you straight into the heavy riffs and drums and then transitions well into the vocals. Another memorable chorus ensues, sounding like something straight off of a sci-fi film soundtrack as they have included some synth aspects throughout the song. BLACK ORCHID EMPIRE can build up to breakdowns incredibly well, and does it with precision and skill, and this is proved again in this track.

Overall, Semaphore has been well mixed, and includes many nicely thought out tracks which all stick to the sci-fi theme. The heavier riffs from the guitar and bass contrast really well with the softer vocals, and the drums are impactful whilst also generating a great pace for every single song. A fine effort from BLACK ORCHID EMPIRE indeed.

Rating: 8/10

Semaphore is set for release on June 12th via Long Branch Records.

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