CD Review: Black Map – “In Droves” (eOne)
Black Map’s In
Droves falls somewhere between Deftones’ White Pony and A Perfect Circle’s Mer de Noms on the stylistic spectrum; 15 tracks of towering
atmospheric rock from guys who know the genre inside and out thanks to their
impressive collective resume (former dredg guitarist Mark Engles, ex-dredg/The
Trophy Fire singer/bassist Ben Flanagan and former †††/Far drummer Chris Robyn).
“Run Rabbit Run” and “Ruin” are massive affairs overflowing with churning
guitar work and complex melodies, “Foxglove” is pure dredg El Cielo bliss and the absolutely stunning composition “Octavia” is
the best song not on Thrice’s Vheissu.
Unfortunately for In Droves, the
album is so expansive that fatigue sets in down the stretch, causing the
album’s latter half to fade into relative oblivion, until parting shot “Coma
Phase” shocks listeners out of their aural coma with temperamental vocals,
towering hooks and angular riffs. As they say, always save the best for last
and always go out on a high note, both of which In Droves succeeds in doing.
Grade: B-
Go Download: “Octavia”
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