A consistent effort of growth and freedom – review of Black Country Communion’s “V”

Two British artists and two American musicians enter a studio… no this is not the beginning of a joke, but it’s the continuation of a story that started in 2009 called Black Country Communion, a project whose talent is overflowing and is about to release their fifth record called “V”, just like in the Romans numerical system. I’m Italian, so I take particular pride when someone uses this way, and for Black Country Communion it’s actually the second time (the first one was for their previous records “BCCIV”).

The fabulous expressivity of Glenn Hughes (“Restless“), the sophisticated touch of Joe Bonamassa (“The Open Road“), the pounding rhythm of Jason Bonham (“Letting Go“), the intricate embellishments of Derek Sherinian (“Love And Faith“, “Too Far Gone“), this product excels and highlights each member’s strengths and skills. It’s such a pleasure to listen to an album that is so wonderfully and carefully produced, mixed, and mastered: an enjoyable experience from start to finish.

But then again, with such an iconic lineup, what could we want more? Well, the only fault I could find in “V” was that the songs sometimes are too uniform. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but with these artists, our standards and expectations are set very high. Black Country Communion has the potential and the requirements to surprise everyone even more, that’s for sure.

The inherent charm of “V” lies in its embrace of relatable and common themes, which paradoxically elevates its accessibility. Rather than reaching for grandiose narratives or abstract concepts, the group opts for everyday experiences that resonate with listeners. From tales of love to moments of freedom, the album serves as a mirror reflecting the common joys and struggles of existence.

These are some of the reasons why you can’t miss this release, and even more so because Black Country Communion is such a breath of fresh air in today’s musical scene, where you don’t need to be anything but yourself for people to appreciate your art. Edgar Degas once said “Everyone has talent at 25. The difficulty is to have it at 50.” That is because he did not have the pleasure to know Black Country Communion.

Tracklist:

1. Enlighten
2. Stay Free
3. Red Sun
4. Restless
5. Letting Go
6. Skyway
7. You’re Not Alone
8. Love And Faith
9. Too Far Gone
10. The Open Road