EP REVIEW: Volume 2 – BLACKGOLD

Make Nu-Metal Great Again. This is a tagline which has been appearing in small pockets of the world over recent years. While the genre hadn’t disappeared entirely, there’s an argument that it had a whiff of mediocrity. With SLIPKNOT and KORN diverting from the sound which made them popular and LINKIN PARK sadly being no more, there was no one to carry the flag. That was until LIMP BIZKIT made their return with Still Sucks (2021). For those who attended the royalty’s recent tour, they were treated to a blistering set from BLACKGOLD who have released their second EP Volume 2.

Is the title unimaginative? Sure. It does what it says on the tin however as this is the enigmatic five-piece’s second EP. With simplicity ruling the roost, Volume 2 comes with five tracks and a compact 17-minute runtime. BLACKGOLD start proceedings with Way Out, an ominous ode to the existential crisis. A crisp beat sits within the uncomfortable distortion on the guitars. Static clears in favour of dense riffs as the group opt for a whispered verse rather than approaching the track all guns blazing. There’s something to be said for BLACKGOLD’s ability to build atmosphere as Way Out and following track Villain certainly indulge in world building. It’s upon closer examination they fall under scrutiny however.

“We’re just a moment in time” feeding into Way Out’s beatdown section is simply sublime. However, there’s very little about this track which treads new ground in terms of nu-metal. The aforementioned Villain treads the ground of SLIPKNOT’s recent material in that it borders on hard rock more than metal. Admittedly, that’s us being pedantic. As the track settles into its groove however, we’re pulled into the lyrical content. Amid the references to Austin Powers and Batman, Villain is a message to embrace our darker side and indulge in our poorer behaviour. While the lyrics are corny at best, don’t the best things come with a whiff of cheese?

If you’re searching for something a little different then Freak is where you’ll find it. BLACKGOLD again indulge in lyrics which read like teenage angst but the instrumentals are where the beauty lies. Freak dwells within the lower tones. Guitars ooze with venom which makes for an interesting contrast against the higher register vocals. “I’m a loser, I’m a fuck up / I’m a god damn freak” leads into a very uneasy sounding interlude. The anticipation for a devastating beatdown or bridge begins to build. That’s exactly what BLACKGOLD are hoping for as the curveball they throw in this section is glorious. With a dancehall section reading more like THE PRODIGY’s Breathe than anything metal had to offer, Freak edges above the rest of Volume 2’s material… until the closer.

It would be remiss of us to launch straight into Boogeyman when On Another Level sits before it. The latter is a call back to when nu-metal was great. Back when bands had no issue using an 808 drum machine – in fact referencing it was something of a status symbol. The call backs don’t end there however as the breakdown is a tribute to KORN’s Freak On A Leash… just without the scatting we all try to emulate. Again the band fall slightly short in terms of their lyrical content, though that’s hardly a massive gripe for a band fresh off the block. “It’s all about the music and not becoming a fad” could not only speak to the genre as a whole but for BLACKGOLD specifically.

While the genre has shakily stood the test of time, only time will tell if the same can be said for the group. Though with tracks like closing Boogeyman, a case can be made for BLACKGOLD being a solid candidate to watch. Lower vocals in faster rap delivery sit atop disjointed instrumentals. The lower end creeps up the spine giving our brains the illusion of something always sitting just on the edge of our periphery. The chorus comes in like the jumpscare we’ve all been waiting for. When sat between two slower verses, it’s a brilliant move. Not only does it make the chorus more impactful, but also makes the track memorable. The anthemic chorus has something of INSANE CLOWN POSSE about it within the groove which illustrates the joy of not just nu-metal but genre bending in general.

So how does Volume 2 stand as a unit? It’s more of the same from their self-titled though it has BLACKGOLD leaning further into themselves. There are some teething problems in terms of lyrical content and some instances where instrumentals could have gone a lot harder than they did. However neither of those things make this a frustrating listen. Volume 2 is a cure for the itch. It’s a morsel of nu-metal for those wanting to feed off the frantic energy for a small boost. We wait in anticipation for a full-length album though volumes one and two do more than sate our desire for an edge.

Rating: 7/10

Volume Two is out now via self-release.

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