Black Magick SS


(Copyright © 2023 Piero Scaruffi | Terms of Use )

Kaleidoscope Dreams (2017), 5/10
Spectral Ecstasy (2018), 4/10
Rainbow Nights (2020), 5.5/10
Burning Bridges (2023), 4/10
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Australian metal band Black Magick SS became more famous for their Nazi imagery than for their sound. After a series of EPs (Symbols Of Great Power, 2012; Panzerwitch, 2013; Hidden In Plain Sight, 2015), the album The Black Abyss (2015) collected early lo-fi material, mostly released on cassettes.

The 27-minute mini-album Kaleidoscope Dreams (Infinite Wisdom, 2017) opened their major phase presenting a style that liberally mixes black metal, hard rock of the 1970s and psychedelia of the 1960s, notably in Kaleidoscope Dreams, with its epic teutonic-influenced aria, and in the soaring hymn Eclipse.

Spectral Ecstasy (Infinite Wisdom, 2018) leans towards occult atmospheres, particularly in My Love, but it mostly sounds amateurish.

Rainbow Nights (Infinite Wisdom, 2020) boasts more interesting vocal harmonies, bordering on Jefferson Airplane-esque, while painting organ-driven gothic atmospheres. The anthemic Iron Maiden-esque Endless Hallucinations leads to the frenzied prog-metal melodrama of Rainbow Nights. Get Out flirts again with electronic dance music, displaying the influence of the Sisters Of Mercy. Kali is demonic doom-metal via coarse AC/DC-esque riffs, and their best stab at mainstream rock. Even this, their best album, suffers from too much amateurish filler.

Burning Bridges (Creep Purple, 2023) grafts derivative prog-pop melodies onto antiquated hard-rock bodies, notably in Dinosaurs, but the effect is often comic. Let Go even winks at the steady beat of disco-music. The guitar solos are derivative of pop-metal. Let The Magick In is the worst prog-metal nightmare.

(Copyright © 2023 Piero Scaruffi | Terms of use )