Black Love – Self-Titled

You don’t hear too much about really awesome Canadian bands here in the States, but Black Love were a band I was excited to listen to. They play very dark post-hardcore and come from Montreal, Quebec. I found out about them through friends helping release this LP. The labels working together on it are I.Corrupt Records (Germany), L’Œil du tigre (Canada), Zegema Beach (Canada), Aorte (Ukraine), Good Post Day (UK), Don’t Live Like Me (US), and L’Orchidoclaste (Canada). With so many international names involved, I became very interested.

This LP starts out very melodic, with a strong post-rock influence that carries through the rest of the album. Typically, I’m not super attracted to these styles, but I really dig what Black Love are doing here. The drum fills between the guitar-driven soundscapes are beautiful, and the chord progressions and riffs really stand out. That’s especially true of “Becker’s Leitmotif,” my favorite track. The first minute is really beautiful. The whole release is, to be honest. The same goes for the final track, “La Fois Que Le Spot Est Passé Au Feu.” The beginning is powerful, the buildup is immense, and the rest of the song carries that momentum through.

The second half of the album flows much better than the first, in my opinion. I’m not sure if that was intentional, but I feel like most of these songs would be great to see live. That’s where bands really sink or swim when it comes to atmospheric post-hardcore. Regardless, this was a great listen from start to finish. Some parts demand your full attention, while others make you bob your head and air drum.

What’s really interesting is that the band features a third guitarist, which isn’t typical for a post-hardcore lineup. It seems completely necessary to play these songs live, though. There’s so much happening with the guitars, but it’s all well organized, something not every band manages to pull off this well. Hopefully, they’ll tour the States soon, because I’d love to catch them.

If you’re into atmospheric and dark post-hardcore bands like Locktender, Men As Trees, or The Sky Above And The Earth Below, this may be right up your alley. If you’re looking to try something new or hear a different take on hardcore, I recommend giving this a shot. It deserves your time.