Black Mountain, the latest release on Transubstans Records from Sweden act Ironbird, doesn't hide for one minute its homage to some of the great heavy rock acts of the '70s, and specifically Ozzy era Black Sabbath. This is lumbering, slightly psychedelic, hard rock & doom, long on big fat guitar riffs, pounding rhythms, and high pitched yet hazy styled vocals that Mr. Osbourne was so good at delivering back in the early '70s. The title track is an instantly memorable, dramatic, doom/stoner fest, while the boiling, rumbling riffs and screaming wah-wah solos of "Waterfall (The Sky Is Burning When Your Soul Turns To Ashes)" are sure to instantly please any fan classic Sabbath, Saint Vitus, or Down. "Ironbird" is almost like a meeting of Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, and Motorhead, but for pure, massive groove-a-doom-a-licious riffing check out the thumping "Up in the Hill", my pick for the most enjoyable cut here. The band even throw in a couple of more roots laden ballads for good measure just to mix things up a bit.
Though not an album that's going to re-write the heavy rock playbook, Black Mountain shows a band who have fully embraced the sounds of the '70s and learned how to create songs that take us back to those glory days. Another solid release from the folks at Transubstans.
Track Listing
1. Hard Times Light Shines
2. Black Mountain
3. Waterfall (The Sky Is Burning When Your Soul Turns To Ashes)
4. Tomorrow's Dream
5. Ironbird
6. Up On The Hill
7. In Time
8. Nothing's Real
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