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Black Orchid Empire - Yugen

Release Date - 25.5.18
Record Label - Long Branch Records

Track Listing
  1. My Favourite Stranger
  2. Burn
  3. Celebrity Summer
  4. Wires
  5. Blacklight Shadow
  6. Pray to the Creature
  7. Vertigo
  8. Mouth of the Wolf
  9. Pins and Needles
  10. Toru's Maze
  11. Years
I first became aware of Black Orchid Empire catching them support InMe on their most recent tour. I liked them enough to buy the last album 'Archetype' from the merch stand. They told me they have a new one coming out soon and this is it.
I'm not going to pretend like I knew what 'Yugen' meant and for those of you that would like to know, it's a Japanese word for 'Subtle yet profound beauty'. I think it's an ambitious title having listened to it a few times but there is a ring a truth to it. Black Orchid Empire are not your typical alt metal band. Whilst bringing the heavy syncopated riffs they never lose sight of melody. Combined with clean almost pop like vocals they tread a fine line that lands them in a niche market that I personally enjoy but is not to everyone's taste.

The first two tracks are the heaviest with a Dream Theater type sounding riff for 'My Favourite Stranger' and a big chorus to go with it. 'Celebrity Summer' which was the first single to me sounds very Queens of the Stone Age when it kicks in. Not a band I'm particularly keen on but this song is quite good. After a strong start the song quality starts to drop a little bit. The next few songs aren't bad though. I didn't find myself skipping tracks. 'Prey to the Creature' has a very tasty verse riff. The next notable track is 'Vertigo'. An acoustic number with a dark verse and a beautifully harmonised chorus with added strings. The last four tracks start off quite good and then slowly decline to a disappointing finish with 'Years'



Having seen them live I can vouch for them being a band worth seeing. I definitely will when they next come by. This album has some very good parts and if you combine it with the best parts of the last album you have a selection of very good tracks for a show.

Rating - 6.5 out of 10  


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