Flat Blak-Down N' Dirty

Self-Release/Independent
2018

Flat Blak is a (blues-infused) hard rock/rock and roll band from Las Cruces, New Mexico. According to the band's Facebook page (link) the group is comprised of Travis Manning (guitar & vocals), Les Skaggs (bass), and Rob Allen (drums & vocals). The 13-track "Down N' Dirty" looks to be Flat Blak's first full-length album and it still hot to the touch(!), seeing as it was just released today!! It was suggested to me by a old high-school friend that just loves all things rock and hard & heavy (thank you dear). Speaking of things that lots of people just love, Flat Blak seems to be driven by the thought of beer, boobs, and BBQ! Or at least that is the posted biography of this heavy/power rock trio. As for my thoughts on "Down N' Dirty"? While I would be the first to admit that this kind of (blues-infused) rock isn't really my thing, Flat Blak and bands just like them are extremely fun to see live and in living color. I would be willing to bet some serious money that this promising band puts on one hell of a live show. With that being said, "Down N' Dirty" is surprising tame. Where is the passion and fire? Honestly the sound is spot on/right there, but this album makes it seem as if Flat Blak were kept in check. For a hard & heavy/blues rock band with "good times" written all over it, "Down N' Dirty" makes the case that here was a band that was hardly excited at all to be laying down music to tape. You could say that I'm being hard on this band because I'm not really into their style, but the truth is I appreciate good music no matter how it is presented. As someone who has seen everyone from Bonnie Rait & Elton John to Slayer and Morbid Angel live, music is meant to move you. I could easily see Flat Blak moving me up out of my seat. It's just too bad that I would have to be at one of their shows to see that happen. Here's to hoping that this band gets it right on round two. Either that or next time around just release a live album.

Free Metal Monday: Sky Valley Mistress: "Paranoid" (Black Sabbath Cover)

For today's first Free Metal Monday offering I present a simply awesome cover version of "Paranoid". Just the other day I introduced you to Sky Valley Mistress and their brand new single, "Hell Ain't Got Your Hound". That KILLER song had me all covered in goosebumps and thinking that I might just have discovered the greatest female-fronted heavy rock/doom rock of all time! The band's take on "Paranoid" was released on April 19th, 2014 and it furthers that thought process!! Lead by my new favorite front-women Kayley "Hell Kitten" Davies, Sky Valley Mistress is all at once groovy as f**k and as deadly as they come! This (must-have) name-your-price download has me thinking about what Black Sabbath would have sounded like if they were more of a fuzzed-over HEAVY rock band that had been influenced by seventies garage rock and early Motörhead! Well, that and if they had been fronted by magnificent lead singer like Kayley! If you are any kind of fan at all of strong and powerful (fuzzy!) rock and roll, doom rock, or stoner/blues rock then you are going to want to not only check out this unbelievable cover song, but EVERYTHING that this Darwin, UK-based foursome has to offer! Oh, and you can thank me later! 

Saturday Single: Sky Valley Mistress-Hell Ain't Got Your Hound

High Roller Records
2016

Darwen, UK act Sky Valley Mistress are "the best thing you've never heard.". That was their words long before I discovered them, but now that I've heard this f**king awesome band for myself I can't help but wholeheartedly agree! Lead by the ferocious Kayley "Hell Kitten" Davies, Sky Valley Mistress is a four-piece HEAVY rock and roll/blues rock band that takes it's cues from the likes of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. Actually, it's more the latter than the former, but either way this is some especially tasty stuff with "Hell Ain't Got Your Hound" serving up fantastic vocals and stone cold-wicked grooves thanks to guitarist Squire! Bassist Russell "Russell" Russell (huh?) and drummer Maxwell Harvey William Newsome III (that's a mouthful!) round this bluesy, doom-laden foursome out and there is additional music available on the group's bandcamp page besides this simply sick single. 

Fans of female-fronted doom rock and heavy rock/blues rock would do well to check this lot out as this really is some of the best stuff out there! How this band has kept hidden for this long I will never know, but now that they are signed to High Roller Records it's time for the world to step up and acknowledge the greatness that is Sky Valley Mistress!