BLACK ANGEL - Elektra
Written by Chris Magdalenski
A Studded Ear to the Past. A Smoky Eye to the Future:
A review of Elektra by Black Angel
Opening with spectral vocals accompanied by a quietly intense tribal beat, goth rockers Black Angel invite you to stand at their alter in worship to the dark-draped gods of the past. The song is Serpent’s Kiss. Twenty-eight seconds in a sinewy guitar riff slithers into my ears. It twists and turns, calling to the dark quiet places in my mind.
The service has begun. The Word reflects those of the giants that came before. Sisters of Mercy, Bauhaus, The Damned. All their voices and more can be heard influencing the hymns Elektra has to offer — head musician and producer Matt Vowles has ensured that. There’s a smooth confidence in both the songwriting and production that projects a deep love for, and knowledge of 80’s goth at the height of its power.
That said, Black Angel brings much more to the table than mimicry. Songs like Awaken Me and In Shadows have an intensity driven by express-train beats and heavy guitars. Layers of rich reverb and echo further tie everything together alongside the cool swagger of Corey Landis’ vocals. They’re great songs, and like many of the others on the album, I find myself almost instinctually compelled to groove along with them.
For me, the standouts on the album are two of the more eclectic tracks on the list. Title track Elektra and penultimate Marie present a more nuanced, storyteller approach to their gothic song craft. Elektra plays like an epic poem. Lush exotic vocals drift in and out of the composition, gradually building to a grandly orchestrated crescendo. The entire piece tells the tale of a mythic dessert queen.
Marie, on the other hand, trades goth grandeur for something more bare bones. A beautifully bittersweet piano line provides the backbone for a darkly soul stirring lament of a love lost.
It’s an excellent piece that truly shows this band's depth.
With six prior albums to date, it’s no surprise just how accomplished these songs are. Up until recently, Black Angel had somehow escaped my attention, though I am more than happy to say I’ll be keeping my eyes and ears on them from now on.
For more Black Angel, visit https://blackangelmusic.bandcamp.com
