Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Los Angeles’ most shamanistic rock band, Blacklist Union, released their sixth album, “Slay The Dragon”, on September 12. The new record perfectly captures the band’s signature style: a blend of Stone Temple Pilots’ rawness, Guns N’ Roses’ attitude, Malfunkshun’s captivating atmosphere, and The Cult’s epic power. Ahead of the album, three singles were released: “Mississippi Moonhound”, “Up In Smoke”, and most recently, “Dyin’ 4 U.”
The band’s extremely charismatic frontman, vocalist Tony West, explains that he drew inspiration for the album from his travels into the jungle to visit the Shipibo indians and the insights he gained there. The lyrics tackle strong themes such as recovering from a difficult divorce and the end of relationships. The symbolism extends to the album’s title and its dark-hued cover, which naturally features a dragon.
“Slay The Dragon” already sparks interest with its song titles, including “Hey Mr. Superstar”, “Can You Heal Me”, and “Rock N Roll Soldier.” The album opens with “Mississippi Moonhound”, welcoming the listener into the world of the full-length with the opening lines: “Whistlin’ Walter’s in his nest / Welcome to the wild wild west.” “Mississippi Moonhound” grabs me from the very first listen and has not lost its impact after multiple plays.
Alongside the previously released singles, “Horns and Halos” stands out in particular. The album is tightly packed from start to finish, with only a few calmer moments. One of these is “Mr. Superstar”, which strikes hard despite its more restrained style. The title track, “Slay The Dragon,” is placed at the very end, tying together everything heard before.
The full-length features 12 tracks and runs for nearly 47 minutes. On first listen, the album felt somewhat overwhelming to me, making me wonder if it might lose some listeners before the end. Perhaps it works even better if trimmed by a track or two, as the overall experience can feel a bit heavy at times. “Slay The Dragon” offers plenty to ponder through its lyrics and, despite its occasional darkness, is perfect for sinking into on chilly, shadowed autumn evenings.
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