Black Sunshine - 'Black Sunshine'

Anyone with a penchant for modern rock in the style of Rev Theory or Black Stone Cherry needs to check out this release promptly.

Forget the bland new offering from Saving Abel; instead immerse yourself in the excellent debut album from Black Sunshine. Formed by one of the worlds top free skiers-before an accident forced a career rethink-and featuring ex Billy Idol drummer Matt Young together with Jeff Flanery, more renowned for his days with Van Zant and The Stereo’s Chris Serafini, Black Sunshine is everything that ‘Miss America’ is not.

Produced by Bob Marlette Black Sunshine’s debut is as good an alternative hard rock album as you are likely to hear. Catchy first single ‘Once In My Life’ although formulaic is radio friendly enough to gain plenty of airplay, and yet it’s on the heavier southern tinged material that the band really excel. Opener ‘Holy Gasoline’ hints at Black Stone Cherry, ‘Burn To Shine’ is similarly blessed, as is ‘Slave’. The quality is sustained throughout with standouts being the up tempo southern hard rock of ‘Hell Yeah’, ‘Tears’ and the Velvet Revolver-like ‘Psycho Babble’. Indeed anyone with a penchant for modern rock in the style of Rev Theory or Black Stone Cherry needs to check out this release promptly.

Mike Newdeck