Over the course of decades of music, there are times when listeners and music reviewers will go back to bands that impressed upon them growing up. Having grown up in the Seattle area, for me those bands included the Foo Fighters, NIRVANA and the whole grunge genre. Well, in the case of Los Angeles-based RadioBlack, consisting of guitarist/vocalist TJ Courtney, drummer/vocalist Derek Gledhill (founder and former drummer for Smile Empty Soul) and bassist Hayato Takano, have an obvious connection to the Seattle grunge scene having been influenced heavily by the aforementioned Foo Fighters which speaks directly to me. Their hard chargin’, head bangin’ rock speaks to late-1990s roots that is a blend of post-grunge and alternative rock music that just jams. There is no pussyfooting around. RadioBlack is a plain and simple rock band.
The thundering, powerhouse guitar riffs mixed with the stiff, thumping percussion and bass through out the self-titled album is a nostalgic and memorable ride. In addition to the familiar musical styling, we are treated to the consistent, grungy vocals of Courtney. The intensity of RadioBlack is unquestionable and fierce. And during the 12-track thrill ride, they never bother to take a track off.
Now, there are moments where we get a little bit of an acoustic guitar intro, like on “Reinvent”, but it is only a mild reprieve before they pick up the pace with those uptempo percussion and pounding bass lines. The album is production and engineering magic as no one part ever overshadows another and is in complete balance. So if you are looking for something that is a little bit nostalgic, but is still new and fresh, I would suggest checking RadioBlack. Their hard-hitting, energetic style is fun and addictive.
You can pick up RadioBlack by RadioBlack on iTunes now. Also, check out the music video for “Run Away” featuring Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters.
