BM LINX - Black Entertainment
The most recent red hot rockers to emerge from New York, BM LINX fuse classic rock vocals with all manner of electronic wizardry to create one of the freshest and most exciting sounds on the market today.
Black Entertainment begins steadily with Valentine and its driving pulse of programmed drum loops punctuated only by the occasional handclap. A six-minute beast complete with insane guitar solo; things certainly get off to a strong start.
Splicing elements of such distinct genres as dance, electro and punk is risky work for any artist, but The Outlaw Jimmy Rose fires a hard rock engine with deathly rumbles of pounding drums and lead singer Tony Diodore's larynx shredding vocals.
Next we're treated to another change of scenery with the band's smouldering new single Kids On Fire. A seemingly effortless blend of Kasabian and Enter Shikari, the band now start sounding like The Rolling Stones catapulted into the digital age.
Red House Been Empty starts with a frantic synth hook that's immediately familiar; before you have chance to decide whether it's the Exorcist theme or a baroque arrangement of a 1980s video game, the mood's shifted again with 3-part harmonies worthy of Fleet Foxes followed up with beefy Led Zeppelin riffs.
With a scintillating combination of epic rock'n'roll and stylish electro-pop, BM LINX's sound is sure to please club-heads and mosh pit enthusiasts alike. What's unusual though is that the album flows seamlessly between genres like it was born of an entirely natural process; no mean feat by anyone's standards.
Sandwiched awkwardly between the indie-pop sparkle of The Killers and an industrial Pink Floyd remix, 123CAT stomps and growls like a sore-headed bear on rocket-powered roller skates. It's a wonder to behold.
One final surprise comes along to close in the shape of the bluesy UO Acoustic. The record's quietest moment, it's just further evidence that BM LINX have the knack so many bands before them thought they had; genuine genre-spanning capability.
While admittedly thousands of bands have tried mixing dance and rock in the past, Black Entertainment is the first official proof that it is in fact possible. A deep, dark and dangerous debut littered with constant surprises, it'll keep you on your toes and leave you on a high.
Rating: 5/5
Skip To: The Outlaw Jimmy Rose
Anthony Hill