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BLACK FOXXES

(UNITED KINGDOM)

BLACK FOXXES

(2020)
LABEL:

AUTRE LABEL

GENRE:

ROCK

TAGS:
Melancholic
"Intense and moving, this third album of Black Foxxes is a real success. If you're looking for the rock album of the year, you've found it."
NEWF (16.11.2020)  
4/5
(0) opinions (1) comment(s)
"I'm Not Well" had been a revelation, and "Reiõi" a small disappointment. After a first visceral and cathartic rock album, Black Foxxes had, with the second one, given in to the siren song of mainstream pop, leaving us worried about its future. We secretly hoped that the trio would soon return to the urgency of their beginnings. Mark Holley seems to have made a similar analysis. Black Foxxes is his creature, his reason for living and his therapy. Eaten away by Crohn's disease and the side effects of his treatment, between depression and alopecia, the singer and guitarist has made it his only outlet. It was probably too much for his original companions to carry. Ant Thornton and Tristan Jane had to leave the band, replaced by drummer Finn McLean and bassist Jack Henley. With this new rhythm section, Mark Holley was able to refocus on himself to compose the most beautiful and moving chapter in the band's discography.

This third album is as much a return to the roots as it is a new beginning and a new direction for Black Foxxes' music. The band's sound is almost as raw as on "I'm Not Well", thanks to a very natural drum sound and a very present, pure and organic bass ('My Skin Is'). This underground atmosphere, between post grunge and garage rock, is supported by compositions all in tension perfectly reflecting the state of mind of a Mark Holley always on the verge of breaking up, in balance between despair ('Panic') and resigned acceptance of his pain ('Jungle Skies'). His emotion-filled voice illuminates the entire album and rubs shoulders with the abysses of a madness he has gradually learned to master and accept (the magnificent 'Swim').

If Radiohead remains a major inspiration for Black Foxxes ('Panic', 'Swim'), the trio's music is enriched with new and exciting textures with this third album. Borrowing alternately from noise rock ('I Am') and the post-punk of Joy Division ('Badlands') and The Cure ('Pacific'), Mark Holley imposes no limits, to the point of flirting several times with shoegaze and his raging guitars ('My Skin Is', 'The Diving Bell'). The result is inspired and well-constructed compositions, often surprising in their ability to combine melody and dissonance, and always interesting in their ability to maintain a permanent schizophrenic tension.

Intense and moving, this third album of Black Foxxes is a real success. Mark Holley invites us to share with him his doubts and flaws and to help him accept his demons. He delivers himself without mask and without make-up. Such an uncovering and such sincerity are so rare in our time dominated by appearance and the dictatorship of perfection that they are all the more beautiful and precious. If you are looking for the rock album of the year, you have found it.
- Official website

TRACK LISTING:
01. I Am
02. Badlands
03. Drug Holiday
04. My Skin Is
05. Panic
06. Swim
07. Jungle Skies
08. Pacific
09. The Diving Bell

LINEUP:
Finn Mclean: Batterie
Jack Henley: Basse
Mark Holley: Chant / Guitares
   
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TORPEDO
18/11/2020
  0
Si les deux premières pistes particulièrement agressives et dérangeantes ne permettent pas de rentrer facilement dans cet album, la suite est franchement réussie.
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LAST NEWS
BLACK FOXXES: New video
 

"Osmium out now !"
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