It’s a cliche, but this album blew me away. Blew me away like the guy in the old Maxell ads. But that’s not right because you cannot listen to ALT BLK ERA’s Rave Immortal (Earache Records) without legit dancing. Finds like this are why I love doing these reviews. Let me do a reset to where I first hit “play”.

ALT BLK ERA by Dean Chalkley

“Straight To Heart” opens with shiny acoustic guitar riffs (yes, shiny, you gotta listen to understand) and breathy Amy Lee-style vocals. Then the synth pummeled my chest and I knew I was in for a ride. ALT BLK ERA is (are?) sisters Nyrobi and Chaya working in perfect synch (“harmony” is the right word, but it’s not) throughout, and between press release and website are the only listed performers (Vocals, at that). Not complaining. I need a new superlative for this. Rave Immortal’s Hard Rock-meets-EDM is catnip for people who loved Avril Lavigne, Power Punk, and Eighties New Wave (my people). Never better illustrated than in “Hunt You Down” and “Come Fight Me For It.”

A number of the songs on Rave Immortal are inspired by Nyrobi’s experience with an ill-defined chronic illness that forced her to bed for years. Part of her rehabilitation happened during (due to, probably) creativity sessions with Chaya, and this sound developed.

This sound. The mix of electronic beats and effects, guitars, drums, and and crazy creative vocals – ranging from silky soft through bloody strident all the way to tight raps Nu Metal-style, and, seriously, more – was built in a lab for me.

I mentioned the lack of credited musicians which may or may not be part of a joke on “My Drummer’s Girlfriend.” Pointed lyrics “She’s snorting cocaine every other weekend/She’s partly insane, she’s my drummer’s girlfriend” continue with enough malicious glee for true mutual rivalry. This track inspired the Avril reference above and it’s possibly the most fun song on the album, which is a tight race.

No review could be complete without a few words on “Run Rabbit,” the single on their site as of this writing. This insanely fun tune has all the catchy riffs of any Top 40 tune with way more force and heart. Of all the awesome workout tunes on offer here, this one will burn the most calories.

Buy the album here:

9 / 10
LARRY ROGERS