Album Review: Black Peaks - All That Divides (2018)
This week I was spoilt for choice with a number of great albums being released. However when push came to shove, there could only be one; Black Peaks’ sophomore album All That Divides.
When I first came across Black Peaks I had been out of the loop on new music for some time so it wasn’t until about a year after their debut Statues had been released that I even knew they existed. It was through their collaboration with Jamie Lenman (whose music I follow with great fervour) on closing track To Take The First Turn that I first began to appreciate what a great band they are. Statues is a pretty incredible debut and left huge expectations for the follow up.
On 5th October 2018 that follow up finally arrived and it does not disappoint. To be completely honest, I first listened to about half the record at 1am on the morning of release suffering from a serious bout of insomnia and I thought this is good but it’s not THAT good. After listening to it constantly over the last few days I can now say, actually it is THAT good. It’s every bit as good as all the people raving about it on the internet say it is. Each song on All That Divides is a journey and all of those journeys combine to make one stunningly memorable album.
So just what is so good about All That Divides? Well the drums are huge and heavy hitting, there are massive growling distorted guitar riffs, haunting clean guitar riffs, guitar hero solos, rumbling, bubbling and reverberating bass lines with great use of feedback in places. The vocals are also incredible and varied. The frontman has great range, moving effortlessly from clean melodic passages to soaring falsettos to gravelly growls all the way through to throat tearing screams. There are moments on here that remind me of Vheissu era Thrice hitting big like a wave crashing over your head (especially on Home) but I also hear touches of Silverchair (see that chorus on closing track Fate I & II) and the records feels like an amalgamation of much of the music I grew up listening to. That’s not to say that it sounds dated or isn’t fresh and original because it absolutely is fresh, original and cutting edge. With every listen I find something new to like and pick out vocal or musical flourishes I hadn’t noticed before and there are hooks and ear worms aplenty. The album is dense and seriously rewards repeat listens.
All That Divides is a genuinely brilliant album; it’s melodic, catchy, bone crushingly heavy and if you are into alternative music, absolutely essential. This band are going to be HUGE and it’s hard to believe this is only their second album.
If you like what you hear don’t forget to support the band. They’re currently embarking upon a tour of the UK and Europe so grab tickets while you still can.
