Black God

II (No Idea)
by Scott Hefflon

Louisville’s Black God features Rob Pennington (Endpoint, By The Grace of God, Black Cross), Ryan Patterson (Coliseum, Black Cross – ran Initial Records, yeah?), Nick Thieneman (Young Widows, Black Cross) and Ben Sears, and if that doesn’t speak of dirty rock/hardcore, you weren’t paying attention. Some have referenced Fugazi, and that’s a fine reference. I’ll also throw in The Bronx, who I still often play in the car five or six years after their self-titled was released. Oh, and let’s mention early Clutch dry riffing when noting “Quit It,” in particular, and other songs in a more general sense. Of the six songs on this 7″ or EP or whatever, there’s not a clunker among them. Even the songs that don’t grab you by the gut and toss you around like a ragdoll are still edgy and engaging, just not mind-blowing. And just to date myself a bit, some of the vocal howls remind me of that deranged Messy Marvin-looking fellow from Murder City Devils, whose 2000 In Name and Blood is a masterpiece of staggering-wasted-in-the-dark rock’n’roll, once you get used to that stupid keyboard sound.

Black God are all established musicians, no bullshit, no posing, just solid songs and hard work. Expect to hear more solid material, expect to see them tour, expect much from this band: They’ll deliver.
(www.noidearecords.com)