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BAND OF SPICE
"By the Corner of Tomorrow" (Scarlet
Records; 2021)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
According to their Amazon.com page, Band of Spice
believes the first two Black Sabbath Records are timeless classics, still as
heavy, fresh and clear today as they were upon their initial release. There’s no
arguing that. So the goal of Band of Spice was to create something as near to
that as they could.
"By the Corner of Tomorrow" may not be as
timeless as "Black Sabbath" and "Paranoid," but it’s a substantial collection of
solid, driving tracks that grab your attention from the get go. The album starts
out fast out of the gate with "The Fading Spot," a track that pretty much sets
you up with what to expect for the rest of the record.
It's interesting that this band mentions Black
Sabbath as being influential but, rather than the early Ozzy stuff, "By the
Corner of Tomorrow" reminds me more of the early Dio-era Sabbath albums, after
being run through a modern Foo Fighters filter. Although most of the tracks are
fiery rockers, the band slows down when appropriate, as on the title track, the
simmering "Regultina" and the closer, "Rewind the Wind" with its David
Gilmour-ish solo.
You know me. I’ll take the heavier stuff. My
favorite tracks on "By the Corner of Tomorrow" are "The Sharp Edge," "Midnight
Blood" and "Cold Flames," all of which feature fat, irresistible riffs.
Pretty good stuff from this Swedish band. If
you’re looking for something fresh, hard and heavy, then look no further.
For more information, check out https://www.facebook.com/BANDofSPICE-161181420587878/.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2021 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
