Start out nice and heavy, add plenty of crunch, a touch of searing hot blues, and the smell of grease and oil. Throw in some fiery guitars, a huge rhythm section and an excellent vocal and stir. Blacktop Mojo introduce themselves with their take on the sort of heavy grunge 70’s worship bands like Soundgarden and Alice in Chains used to make so essential. Indeed opener ‘Where the Wind Blows’ shines just as much as it simmers.
Hailing from Palestine, Texas, though means that Blacktop Mojo forsake the coldness of those Seattle-influenced sounds for the warmth of the South, and in slip in hints of bands like Black Stone Cherry and even The Black Crowes along with a vintage/modern edge that has you thinking of maybe Alter Bridge and Shinedown. Indeed there’s something of both those bands in Matt James’ vocals. This album is all about big riffs, and road train size choruses but what really sets it apart are the guitars and the killer vocals.
If you want more then ‘End Of Days’ puts the foot down further and the title track that follows not only kicks ass but paints a great historical picture. The rest of the album is just as hard hitting and equally as good, and better still there’s not a hint of compromise: it’s hard and crunching Southern-tinged Metallic Blues all the way.
Try ‘Prodigal’, ‘Sweat’, ‘Pyromaniac’, ‘Dog On A Leash’ or the inspired over of Aerosmith’s ‘Dream On’ and you’ll be more than impressed. Blacktop Mojo with album number two have really found their sound – and it’s huge.
