The world of Post-Grunge and Octane-Hard Rock is often looked down upon in the alternative scene with phrases like “buttrock” and “divorced-dad rock” now part of the common lexicon when referring to such highly esteemed bands like Nickelback and Shinedown. 

However, these bands have their place in the world and have produced some of the best ballads and choruses in the twenty-first century. 

Black Oak County are such a band to wear this label on their sleeve proudly without any shame. Now with their third album, aptly named III (Mighty Music), the band are in search of new musical horizons, following on from inspirations such as Volbeat. With Niels Beier rejoining the band back on vocal duties with Rene Kristensen, will this be a return to form for the band?

It’s an abrupt start for III, as the band awkwardly charges into the opening track, “Crossed The Line.” Lead vocals and guitars dive in headfirst from the get-go. Elements of Five Finger Death Punch and Volbeat can be heard instantly. The guitars are hard and energetic, but seem to be too restricted to truly capture the full energy that is put into the music. It’s in the pre-chorus bridge that the capability of the band truly shines forward as the band launch themselves truly into a band, one of those rare moments that you can tell the band are attuned with each other and are jamming. It feels as if the band could’ve dived into a guitar solo, but Black Oak County restrains themselves from the temptation, and the song feels cut short.

The main driving force of these radio Rock songs are the giant choruses that go so well accompanied driving along a highway or at a large outdoor festival. Black Oak County truly recognised the assignment when it comes to the two-punch hit of the tracks “Save Your Breath” and “Boom Boom Baby.” The guitars are punched up another notch compared to the previous songs, and both dual vocalists are locked in alongside the instruments. 

“Boom Boom Baby” captures what made Black Stone Cherry special all those years. The combination of Country, Hard Rock, and eighties Hair Metal brings out some of the most fun music there can possibly be. 

Scaling back to a slower ballad at the tail-end of the album is “Broken Window,” bringing in more of a Shinedown side to the band. Soulful crooning, a lone clean guitar and some orchestral are all the sounds filling the room of the final track. Towards the end of the song, it feels as if the band are building up for one last dramatic crescendo as these slower ballads go. This never comes, however, and opts for the more minimalist slow outro.  

It really feels as if Black Oak County is on the brink of being one of the new rising stars in the scene. When the band nails a chorus or a riff, they really nail it. However, on some of the album, it feels like the band is holding back, or restraining themselves from really going all in on what could be called tacky or gimmicky, regardless of the fact these are a staple of the genre they’re playing for. 

That last crescendo on “Broken Window” could’ve elevated it to a whole new level, similarly with the potential guitar solo on the opening number. Hopefully, with album number four, the band will be able to overcome this and take the next step in becoming a new heavy hitter on the radio Rock circuit.

Buy the album here:
https://blackoakcounty.bandcamp.com/album/iii

6 / 10
CHARLIE HILL
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