The Year Of The Scorpion
Self-Released, 2020
9/10
Listen to The Year Of The Scorpion
The New York trio of George Grant, Luis Infantas and Frank Morin, as Black Rose Burning they released these 9 tracks in 2020, and it represents their hard hitting yet cautious brand of rock that flirts with post-punk, goth, alt-rock and synth friendly sounds.
The dense synth buzzing and crisp drums of “Soul Is On Fire” gets the listen off to textured and radiant start, where smooth vocals from Grant are appreciated, and “When We Dance” follows, and is actually dance friendly thanks to the bright melodies and thumping drums from Infantas.
“Dreamtime” and “Two Coins For The Ferryman” occupy the middle spot, where the former is an intimate moment of indeed dreamy, pop influences, while the latter is both rugged and tuneful, as swirling guitars from Morin add much intrigue to the rich landscape.
Arriving near the end, “Under Twin Suns” benefits much from meticulous drumming and a warm guitar tone amid Grant’s bright singing, and “Whisper” finishes with thick bass that suits the post-punk tinted, hazy exit.
An excellent starting point, Black Rose Burning’s prog/goth/post-punk/synthwave formula is as creative as it is timeless, and this first album laid the groundwork for further greatness.
Travels well with: Black Rose Burning- The Wheel; Black Rose Burning- Ad Astra