Heavy doom quartet BLESSED BLACK are gearing up to unleash a new EP on July 7, 2023. Entitled Seasons: Vol. 1, this 3 song offering is the first of a series of EPs planned for 2023 and 2024 that mark a new chapter in the band’s career. Seasons: Vol. 1 features the debut of new guitarist Jake Stone, and finds the band exploring themes of existentialism, grief, healing, and rediscovery.
“This is a band with stunning technical abilities. The sheer wizardry that they bring to the foreground is fascinating and speaks to just how much hard work has gone into this record” – 8.5/10 Metal Injection
“The riffs are larger than life, the drums and bass give the tunes a strong backbone, and the vocals pack energy and emotion into every line sung.” – 5/5 Metal blast.net
Doomy riffs, lashings of distortion and 70’s-esque organ are the offering from BLESSED BLACK. Along with the heavy, Seasons: Vol. 1 delivers deeply personal and emotional narratives across the tracks. The opening track “Hellbender” is based on a conversation vocalist/guitarist Joshua Murphy had with his father who was batting cancer. Stating “It focuses on how temporary life can be, and how easy it is to lose sight of what’s actually important in life.” The second track “Obsidian” explores the process of finding yourself again after experiencing tragedy, loss, and grief. The EP concludes with “Unable”, which is about how hard it is to watch friends and loved ones lose themselves to addiction.
About BLESSED BLACK:
The band was founded by Murphy and drummer Ray Bates in 2018 with original guitarist Chris Emerson and original bassist Jens Nielsen. Current bassist Brad Bellamy joined in late 2019 following Nielsen’s departure. In 2022 Chris Emerson departed and after a few months existing as a trio, the band decided to bring in good friend Jake Stone as a new permanent guitarist. Musically BLESSED BLACK are heavily influenced by bands like BLACK SABBATH, DANZIG, TROUBLE, ROKY ERICKSON, and GRAVEYARD, to name a few. The outfit released their first EP Beyond The Crimson Throne in 2020, followed by the single “La Brea” in 2021. The upcoming release marks a new era with BLESSED BLACK’s newly established line-up and shift in direction to a sound which Murphy describes as what was originally intended when the band was created.
BLESSED BLACK is:
Joshua Murphy (WAR CURSE): Vocals + Guitar
Jake Stone (ex-SMOKE HEALER): Guitar
Brad Bellamy (BLACK TRACTOR, PHANTOM QUEEN): Bass
Ray Bates: Drums
Links:
Bandcamp: https://blessedblack.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blessedblackdoom
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blessedblackdoom/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/blessedblack_
Credits:
Organ parts recorded by Mark Brown.
1. Hellbender
2. Obsidian
3. Unable
