ALBUM REVIEW: Weight Of The World – Florence Black
FLORENCE BLACK is a name we haven’t been able to escape. With three successful EPs under their belt, along with vocalist/guitarist Tristan Thomas’ recent live guest spot with SKINDRED at Bloodstock Festival, the time has come for their biggest release yet. On September 17th, the Welsh rockers finally drop their debut full-length, Weight Of The World.
The full-length boasts ten tracks which serve as a culmination of the band’s time together. A smooth blend of old and new material bolts straight out the gate with Zulu. Here, a vast yet dense soundscape comes together with a low hum fusing with a tantalising groove section. Thomas’ distinct rasp pools over a fast, aggressive number. Later on, blues lace the chug of the breakdown, tying together the elements which make FLORENCE BLACK a talking point.
Being dubbed “a Welsh BLACK STONE CHERRY”, piles on the pressure for this threesome to deliver. Yet, the salacious groove of Inside Out, experimentation with the fantastical on Black Cat, and the emotional rawness of So Far Away all far exceed the moniker. FLORENCE BLACK don’t stop there as they explore the boundaries of the genre and bend them to their will.
Thomas’ grit shines through his growls on the boisterous On The Ropes. Chaotic riffs trample over Perry Davies’ powerhouse drum work. On The Ropes pulls us into the ring for 12 rounds where the pace is almost unrelenting. A short lived interlude offers reprieve before we’re dragged into the closing death roll. This edge continues with The Deep End. “Drown me in the deep end, darlin’” sits upon an ever-spiralling lick. As the verse is repeated, a bass heavy crunch begins to push through. Flowing in the breakdown, this fully formed crushing riff paves the way for a solo to slide through this song like a hot knife through butter.
FLORENCE BLACK know how to pack a punch. Can You Feel It?’s huge drums provide another slugfest. The trio punch our “one way ticket to Hell” with distorted guitars and buzzing bass, with a Southern Rock inspired groove forming the core of the song. This is where FLORENCE BLACK feel most at home, and it shows in their sublime vocal harmonies. Their weight isn’t solely within bombastic rock tracks either. The blues influence radiates through the slower Grove Street. This shift in the dynamic comes naturally for the band as they sail through this rally to courage. Trepidations surrounding life’s various stages are incredibly subjective, but the outfit navigate these waters with ease and grace.
FLORENCE BLACK have felt the weight and eyes of the world on them since announcing this record. The confident swagger which flows through each of this album’s ten songs shows they have nothing to fear. This blend of blues and hard rock with inflections of metal leaves a sweet aftertaste. Weight Of The World is a stunning debut from a band who should be on everyone’s radars.
Rating: 9/10
Weight Of The World is set for release on September 17th via self-release.
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