Black Smoke Trigger announce themselves as the most thrilling thing to come out of New Zealand since The Lord Of The Rings movies, and they are!
After a very busy summer warming up the European crowds for Bruce Dickinson’s ‘The Mandrake Project Tour,’ Black Smoke Trigger self released their long-awaited first album Horizons on August 2nd, five years after their debut EP Set It Off (2019).
With Horizons, Black Smoke Trigger consolidate their stance as one of the hottest up and coming acts. Horizons consists of 12 direct, fast-paced tracks strongly influenced by the late 1990s/early 2000s alt rock scene. Charlie Wallace’s guitars can be incredibly sharp; the solos are fast, melodic and not never feel redundant or forced. Throughout the duration of the album Black Smoke Trigger always prioritise the groove. Heads up to the rhythm section — Dan Fulton on bass and drummer Josh Te Maro — on “K.M.T.L.” and “Never Dies” that specifically rely on their solid, groovy and impactful presence.
Baldrick is the incendiary vocalist of the band and across the twelve tracks on Horizons, he shows off his wide vocal range, and deep control over his voice which is very versatile, apt to the more aggressive “Set Me On Fire” as well as to the power ballads “Power Of Life” and “Sun Cries Red.”
Horizons is a gem, a highly recommended album to everyone who likes post-grunge and 90’s alternative rock acts such as Foo Fighters, Godsmack, and — in a way — the 2000s supergroup Velvet Revolver.
