From the opening salvo of big bruising rocker ‘Wicked Woman’, you know what Blacktop Mojo’s new self titled album (Cuhmon Records) has in store – a heady mixture of Southern Rock, Grunge and Hard Rock. Lynyrd Skynyrd, Soundgarden and Black Stone Cherry are the ingredients, with the outcome being muscular riffs, big choruses, plenty of volume, and an angsty, grunge-like atmosphere.

Tracks like ‘Bed Tundy’ are the results – hard and heavy rockers with a deep groove, a catchy chorus and a lively guitar solo. The subject matter is equally heavy, being about the horrid Ted Bundy. This record packs a punch, with the hefty guitars and the boisterous hooks of ‘Do It For the Money’ amply demonstrating this. ‘Rewind’ is a similarly slick slab of Hard Rock that Black Stone Cherry would be proud of, with the harmonious axe work of Ryan Kiefer and Chuck Wepfer front and centre.

On this, their fourth album, they have really got into their stride. Whether it be the sludgy, metallic groove of ‘Jealousy’ or dark secrets of the concise ‘Darlin’ I Wont Tell’ – they have found a sweet spot between being alternative and accessible. As for the latter ballads are inevitable, we have ‘Hold Me Down’ – a pleasant, loved up plea with Classic Rock stylings – and much better final track single ‘Tail Lights’. The latter is a heartfelt track with a rich vein of blues running through it, especially in Matt James’ vocals – a sweet moment to end on, particularly after the plodding, Alice in Chains-esque penultimate track ‘Stratus Melancholia’.

This Texan quintet’s self-titled fourth album is a hybrid of differing Rock styles, melded into one thoroughly enjoyable mix of alternative, heavy and commercial.

Buy the album here: https://blacktopmojo.com/

7 / 10

THOMAS THROWER