Blackjack Mountain - (Holding Time)
Turn this to 6.2 of 11
Released: 2021
Genre: Hard Rock
Sounds Like: Ape Machine, Raging Slab, Steak
Blackjack Mountain return with their high flyin' hard rock rodeo of an album with Holding Time. The trio from Georgia combine a late 80s/90s hard rock style with some groovy stoner themes. It's a mixed bag that has us a bit perplexed at times. The first couple of tracks "What I Need" and "Red Eagle" have this 80s 'never gonna give up' attitude that's meant to get you pumped up. Plus "Red Eagle" has a rhythm section that totally resembles The Cult's "Wild Flower," which sucks us in every time. "Loaded Gun" is a living on the edge tune where anything goes, drive fast or die!!
"Witch Of The Swamp" is where the album takes a turn. This track has killer stoner groove with intriguing lyrics, it almost feels like a different band with the song writing process. The next track is great as well and continues with this stoner feel. The last song "Echoes Of Time" comes out of left field and is fucking solid. Its laid back vocal style and bluesy stoner jamming is a pleasant surprise. So what kind of a band is this? Are they the high flyin 90s rock and roll outlaws or a stoner band with killer grooves? No matter, Holding Time is fun ride and deserves to be listened to, so who knows, it may fit right into your rotation.
Track Listing:
1. Intro 00:13
2. What I Need 02:56
3. Red Eagle 05:21
4. Loaded Gun 03:09
5. Witch Of The Swamp 04:38
6. Nevermore 03:08
7. Devil In The Dark 04:49
8. I Dont Mind 04:48
9. River Flows 05:00
10. Echoes Of Time 06:52
Standout Track(s):
"Echoes Of Time," "Witch Of The Swamp" and "Nevermore".
Adult Beverage Pairing:
Go Flight by Icarus Brewing In New Jersey is the perfect beverage to pair with Holding Time. This 5.4% ale has a wheat style with hints of citrus.
ROTATION RECAP:
Captivation and Variety
6.1 out of 11
Vocal Performance
7.3 out of 11
Weight of the Heavy
6.4 out of 11
Fretwork Prowess
6.6 out of 11
Percussive Vision
6 out of 11
Bass Undercurrent
6 out of 11
Originality
6 out of 11
Overall Album Flow
5.9 out of 11
Contrast
6.3 out of 11
Album Cover Aesthetics
8.8 out of 11
Production Value
8.3 out of 11
Blackjack Mountain Is:
Tyler Bates, Guitar/Vocals
Clayton Kingsmill, Bass/Vocals
Michael Bearden, Drums/Percussion
Final Thoughts:
Holding Time will grab a hold of stoner rock fans as well as 80s/90s epic rock lovers. The album does have a clean production which sounds nice when cranked up. So, it will be interesting to see where Blackjack Mountain lands among fans of heavy rock fans.
Follow Blackjack Mountain: Bandcamp / Facebook
