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BLACK SWAN “Paralyzed”
BLACK SWAN “Paralyzed”
By Iron Sheik
BLACK SWAN is a band that keeps getting better with each successive release. Album number three, “Paralyzed”, due out in February 2026, sees the guys staying in similar sonic territory yet a tad heavier with a bit more polished sound. It is still tight ass hard rock. Heavier than each member's solo endeavours have been known to be. Tight, heavy and blues infused music coming up after band introductions.
BLACK SWAN is Robin McAuley (ex-McAULEY SCHENKER GROUP) on vocals, Reb Beach (WINGER and WHITESNAKE) on guitar, Jeff Pilson (FOREIGNER, ex-DOKKEN) on bass, and Matt Starr (ex-ACE FREHLEY and MR. BIG) on drums. A true hard rock supergroup of some of hard rock's finest players from some famous 80s bands. I think they put out music on par with or better than their respective bands. Just my opinion. You are welcome! “Paralyzed” is also a blisteringly hard rocking piece of music. Now for the songs!
Right from the opening salvo of “When The Cold Wind Blows” we get a wall of sound that is quite impressive. Reb and Robin's past from the 80s and 90s forward is a grey area for me so I really cannot compare. I was never much of a fan of WINGER (and not because of MTVs Beavis And Butthead making fun of them), and all iterations of MSG flew under the radar for me. DOKKEN and ACE FREHLEY, on the other hand, were constantly on my turntable, and I still play their music today. Through track four, “If I Was King” the pace has kept heavily rocking. Reb has definitely earned a new fan here! His playing is on par with some of the greats of the 80s. All the players are excellent musicians from that great metal era. That era produced some underrated musicians proving it was not all about big hair and spandex. There was and is substance there.
By track six, “The Fire And the Flame” the energy has not let up. Balls out rocking taking place so far. It is not until “I'm Ready” that we get a power ballad which rocks although with a softer style and sound. Detour forthcoming: R.E.O. Speedwagon changed the way bands approach their ballads. “Keep On Loving You” broke down barriers of what a ballad could sound like. Title track “Paralyzed” is an aggressive rocker to help anchor the back half of the album. Great riffs splitting the ears coupled with vocals that are high and unbelievable. We get some sleazy blues at the end with “Battered And Bruised” and “What The Future Holds. An excellent ending to an otherwise topnotch album.
Thank yous must go out to Serafino Perugino, President and head of A&R for Frontiers Music SRL for wanting to put together a supergroup that could reach back to the 80s musically as well as stay current. Nostalgia is the key, and it takes the right combination with perfect timing. Pun and irony on me! If you are a fan of bands like SCORPIONS, KISS, LITA FORD, RATT, KIX or OZZY OSBOURNE and the band members' respective bands then BLACK SWAN will fit in and fill that sweet spot. Nothing silly on tap here. BLACK SWAN's “Paralyzed” is 80s styled hard rock that is high energy riffage coupled with soaring vocals and a kickass bottom end to anchor it all! They are a band that is firing on all cylinders with an album that contains an avalanche of sound from the opening wind to the last note bringing the beautiful din to an end. Heavy, bluesy, sleazy leaves us “Paralyzed”!
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