Black Love – Self-Titled

You don’t hear too much about really awesome Canadian bands here in the States but this is a band that I was excited to listen to. Black Love is a very dark post-hardcore band from Montreal, Quebec. I had found out about these guys through some friends that are helping release this LP. The labels working together on this are I.Corrupt Records (GER) / L’Œil du tigre (CAN) / Zegema Beach (CAN) / Aorte (UKR) / Good Post Day (UK) / Don’t Live Like Me (US) / L’Orchidoclaste (CAN). With so many international names involved, I became very interested.

This LP starts out very melodic, with much post-rock influence sticking out for the remainder of the album. Typically, I’m not super attracted to these styles but I really dig what Black Love was doing here. The drum fills in between the guitar-driven soundscapes were beautiful. The chord progressions and riffs really stick out. Especially so on the track “Becker’s Leitmotif” which is my favorite to listen to. That first minute is really beautiful. The whole release is, to be honest. The same goes for the the final track on the record “La Fois Que Le Spot Est Passé Au Feu”. The beginning is powerful, the build up is immense. The rest of the song is able to carry that build up too.

The second half of the album plays a lot better than the first in my opinion. I’m not sure if that was intentional, how it flowed more than the first. I really feel like the majority of these songs would be great to see live. I feel that is where bands are really able to sink or swim when it comes to really atmospheric post-hardcore. Regardless, this was a great listen from start to finish. It has it’s parts that you just have to really pay attention to just as much as there are parts that make you bob your head and air drum.

What’s really interesting is that the band features a 3rd guitarist, which isn’t typical in a regular post-hardcore instrument kit. It seems completely necessary though to really play these songs live. There is just so much happening with guitar but it’s so well organized, something that isn’t done as well as these guys were able to pull off all of the time. Hopefully the band plans on touring the states soon because I would love to catch them.

If you’re into really atmospheric and dark post-hardcore names like Locktender, Men As Trees,  or even The Sky Above And The Earth Below; this may be right up your alley. For those of you who are into trying something new, or needing a different take on hardcore music, I recommend giving this a shot. It’s well deserved.