Mr. Blackwell--Burn (1997)
Rating--8.4
Breaking Me Down--RealAudio Save Myself--RealAudio
This is a local band (Coats/Raleigh, NC) that I wish record execs could see live--they are one of the best club acts I have ever seen. Mr. Blackwell has been around the N.C. scene for some time; they have been quite the soldiers for their fans--whose numbers are strong.
Blackwell won a "battle of the bands" contest in the summer of '97, which pitted several hundred N.C.-area bands' music against each other. The payoff was the opening slot for Queensryche at Hardee's Walnut Creek Amphitheater--one of the South's best open-air venues. The band totally wowed the crowd, playing as if they had been born and bred on the big stage.
Mr. Blackwell's music is heavy, fairly straight-forward metal. The best way to describe it would be a mix of Pantera, slower Testament, and some of the grooves incorporated by Rage Against the Machine. Vocalist Warren Gary's voice has a strong, gritty quality to it, but also a yearning, melodic side that conjures strong visions of Testament's Chuck Billy (pre-growl days).
The highlights of 'Burn' are "If I...", "Breaking Me Down", "Shine", "Save Myself", and "Strength in Numbers." Mr. Blackwell is at its best when they get into a chunky groove, and Warren Gary is able to strut his way through the lyrics, letting his voice cut you in two.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Warren a couple of times in Raleigh, both times at The Mission--once opening for Dokken, and the second time at the band's CD release party. I spoke with him for about a half hour at the Dokken show, and he is total class. This is a band that obviously still has a lot of room for improvement, but they are heads and shoulders above some of the garbage that's out there today. Visit Mr. Blackwell's official site for info, CD's, and other interesting tidbits. Support underground music!!
TRACK LIST: Burn/Denial/If I.../Breaking Me Down/To Die For/Torn/Shine/Save Myself/Strength in Numbers/?
Back to Discography