THE BLACK HOUNDS – Colossus

Hailing from Wolverhampton, England, The Black Hounds are set to release their first full length album Colossus. The Black Hounds got their start in 2013 and released a couple of EPs along the way before a line-up change.

“Colossus” is led by a meaty guitar riff that gives way to The Black Hounds unique vocal tandem. Ant employs a clean, soulful tone, while Connor drops Heavy Metal growls. This song about rising up could quite possibly be the band’s anthem after their re-grouping. “Ruthless” has a Groove Metal swagger to it thanks to Tom’s bass lines. The haunting middle section breaks up the pace before returning. Joe’s drum work cannot be ignored on “Crown of Bones.” The song could easily be about *insert your favorite hated politician here*.

The band’s first single from the album “Defy Messiah” has Ant’s melodic vocals front and center. The effort he puts into his delivery, you can tell he believes what he’s singing. “Part of the Machine” is a little more refined and commercial sounding, but still has plenty of monster riffs and screeching solos. The track eventually slows to an evil crawl before building back up. “Judgement” is a 7+ minute epic that runs the gamut of tempos and intensity.

The Black Hounds come out swinging on the mighty Colossus. The two polar opposite vocal styles do set the band apart from their contemporaries. The band’s sound is truly their own, with hints of Alice in Chains, Black Label Society, and Opeth in the mix.

Tracklisting

1. Intro
2. Colossus
3. Ruthless
4. Crown of Bones
5. Defy Messiah
6. Numbered Days
7. Part of the Machine
8. Judgement