Black Spy - 2023 - Songs of Dissonance

(32:33; Art Safari)

Track list:
1. Hollow Ground 3:40
2. Rat Race 3:31
3. New Dark Age 7:45
4. Nothing 2:12
5. Ocean of Fears 3:43
6. Fall 11:42

Line-up:
Antti - vocals, guitars, organ, percussion
Eetu - bass, percussion, vocals
Tuomas - drums, percussion, vocals


Finnish band Black Spy has been around since 2007 according to their biography, but as a recording unit it would appear that they didn't get active until a few years back, with just a single and an EP to their name prior to 2023. But at the end of 2023 they released what appears to be their debut album, "Songs of Dissonance", through Finnish record label Art Safari.

Where Black Spy actually resides in terms of style and orientation comes across as a bit of a moot point judging from the contents of this album, as the dominant style elements on this album are just about evenly divided between post-punk and noise rock. The melody lines, general mood and groove in particular contain elements of the former, while the guitarist is having a field day in providing elements of the latter throughout. But there is a bit more to this production than merely post-punk going on noise rock too, as this band isn't a strict one or two trick pony.

For starters the band alternate between more noise infested landscapes and sections with a more prevalent and dominant melody taking the lead, which does expand the canvas explored considerably. The vocals are often delivered with a bit of an old school punk attitude, and combined with a somewhat accented delivery this adds a bit of a distinct feel to this part of the experience. One that on a few occasions is a bit off to my taste, but then first and foremost in the few songs that possibly would have benefitted from a less intense vocal delivery rather than  the execution and accent as such. Still, for some this may be a little bit of a divisive element.

We do get a song or two that in style reference old school punk just a little bit too, but a perhaps more defining aspect of the material here is that quite a few of the more heavy set passages appear to have a little bit of an influx from 90's era classic grunge. An additional feature, present on the two compositions that stretch beyond the five minute mark, is that those longer songs in terms of structure and variation also appear to draw upon the legacy of progressive rock for inspiration with a number of changes and alterations in pace, overall sound and intensity. As I know that one of the band members is, or at least used to be, something of a fan of progressive rock, this part of the total experience is perhaps less of a surprise for me than for others that come across this band.

I do find this to be quite the interesting album, and I appreciate that the band have chosen to maintain a little bit of a rough edge to the landscapes explored in general and for the electric guitar in particular. Post-punk and noise rock are, after all, types of music that tends to benefit from a sound that isn't overly polished. If a more creative and expansive blend of post-punk and noise rock is within your general field of interest, then this is an album that warrants a check.

Olav M. Björnsen, February 2024

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/postyouthrock
https://www.art-safari.org/records/