Vocalist Robin McAuley (McAuley Schenker Group), guitarist Reb Beach (Winger, Whitesnake), bassist Jeff Pilson (Foreigner, The End Machine, Dokken), and drummer Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Mr. Big) have joined forces in Black Swan, a new band project signed to Frontiers Records. Music aside, the only real question is why the album seems to feature what looks like a white Mute Swan on its cover rather than the titular Black Swan? (maybe I’ll get to ask them that later on)…
From the fiery opener and title track ‘Shake The World’ to the last strains of ‘Divided/United’ Black Swan are a pretty impressive listen and for me it’s the sizzling guitar of Reb Beech that grabs my attention most – Beech seems to be on a mission since contributing some of the best material to Whitesnake’s latest album and he’s similarly on fire here. Listen to the solo of that opener or the riff of follow-up ‘ Big Disaster’ and that is just a taste!
If you love your Hard Rock with a lot of groove and some great melodies this is an album that will tick your boxes but it’s also one with a few surprises like gentle AOR ballad ‘Make It There’ or the lush ‘Sacred Place’ a great Melodic rocker where Reb’s guitar is the real star for me. Among my favourites though just might be the perfect storm of ‘Long Road To Nowhere‘ or the foot to the floor verses of ‘Unless we Change’ that melt wonderfully well into the unexpectedly smooth chorus.
Then there’s the wonderful Classic Rock of ‘Johnny Came Marching‘ and the more modern sounds of ‘Immortal Souls’. Add to that the finely dressed hard rocking swagger of ‘She’s On To Us’ and ‘The Rock That Rolled Away’ which have my ear at the moment. It’s the Queen-like closer ‘Divided/United’ though that just might top the lot,it’s a song that lifts the whole album up to the next level.
Throughout you are reminded of what a great set of pipes McAuley has and with the talent of Pilson (who also produces) and Starr backing it all up, together with the fire of Beech the only question is (aside from that Swan one) like on so many great Frontiers projects is will we ever get to see this live?
Tracklist: Shake The World | Big Disaster | Johnny Came Marching | Immortal Souls | Make It There | She’s On To Us | The Rock That Rolled Away | Long Road To Nowhere | Sacred Place| Unless We Change | Divided/United
Line-up: Robin McAuley- Lead Vocals and Background Vocals | Reb Beach- Guitars and Background Vocals | Jeff Pilson- Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Keys and Background Vocals | Matt Starr- Drums and Percussion
