Black Elephant (Cosmic Blues)
Crank this to 8.6 of 11
Released: 2018
Genre: Stoner Rock, Heavy Rock
Sounds Like: 7Zuma7, Orange Goblin, Atomic Bitchwax
Italy’s foursome Black Elephant bring the heavy and bluesy fuzzzz on their latest effort Cosmic Blues. With dirty riffage, bluesy psychedelia and a bit o' boogie, this album hits on all cosmic levels. Released by Small Stone Records, these four gents have a winning formula that just sticks with you. The first cut “Cosmic Soul” starts off with some weightless spacey grooves to wet the appetite. The vocal prowess of front man and guitarist Alessio Caravell are gritty, yet clean with a tinge of echo, really elevating the rawness of the album.
Our favorite track is possibly “Inno,” what a fucking inspiring jam. The song has it all, a few scrappy vocal lines, heavy stoned riffs, and psychedelic jams to numb the mind. The bluesy "Helter Skelter" has us longing to hear a saxophone in the background, it seems like it would just fit right in. So, grab a cold one, crank up the volume and take in the cool stoner vibe of Black Elephant.
Tracklist:
1. Cosmic Soul 04:54
2. Helter Skelter 07:03
3. Chase Me 01:43
4. Walking Dead 03:11
5. Baby Eroina 07:30
6. Cosmic Blues For Solitary Moose 03:49
7. Inno 06:03
ROTATION RECAP:
Vocal Performance
8.2 of 11
Risk of Subwoofer Damage
8.4 of 11
Weight of the Heavy
8.8 of 11
Rhythmic Pace
8.6 of 11
Lyrics and Song Structure
8.6 of 11
Fretwork Prowess
8.8 of 11
Overall Album Flow
8.8 of 11
Album Cover Aesthetics
9.2 of 11
Production Value
8.9 of 11
Standout Track(s)
“Inno,” ”Cosmic Soul” and "Helter Skelter"
Adult Beverage Pairing
Buffalo Sweat - German Chocolate Cake by Tallgrass Brewing Company in Kansas. The 5% ABV is a refreshing smooth brew with a restrained sweetness. Smells of dark chocolate and a little vanilla and tastes of German chocolate cake - along with hints of vanilla and caramel.
Lasting Impression
Cosmic Blues is an album that doesn’t stretch the boundaries of heavy exploration, but it doesn't need to. When your in that mood for some gritty stoner blues with tons of groove, Black Elephant will fill the void.
Black Elephant is:
Alessio Caravelli: lead vocals and lead guitar
Massimiliano Giacosa: rhythm guitar
Marcello Destefanis: bass guitar
Simone Brunzu: drums
Follow Black Elephant:Facebook/Bandcamp
