Black Mountain is a psychedelic rock band from Vancouver, BC. Destroyer is their fifth record, and their fiercest and most focused effort yet. The album is inspired by group founder Stephen McBean finally getting his driver’s license and experiencing the freedom (and fear) of the wide open road. Destroyer gets its title from the 1985 Dodge Destroyer, a one-run-only hunk of Detroit steel. The album was produced by John Congleton (St. Vincent, War on Drugs, Mountain Goats), and is eight tracks over a concise 43 minutes. The album features several drummers, including Adam Bulgasem (Soft Kill), Kilph Scurlock (Flaming Lips), and Kid Millions (Oneida). The main riff of “Future Shade” was described by McBean as one that has “traveled around the world then hit the bong with a chorus a year and a half later”, but we think it sounds like Ozzy singing through a megaphone over early Judas Priest. “Horns Arising” is stadium-sized Sabbath riffs with icy vocoder, “Boogie Lover” is built on a snaking bass riff with guitar washes cutting through like headlights in fog. “License To Drive” is rumbling Bad Seeds drumrolls and layers of anxious keyboards. This LP is pressed on indie exclusive white vinyl and includes a printed inner sleeve with album lyrics.

• white vinyl pressing
• digital download included
• limited edition
• music label: Jagjaguwar 2019

reviewed by JET JAGUAR 06/2019