Black Space Riders’ new album is entitled We’ve Been Here Before (Cargo Records). It’s got what you’ve come to expect from Black Space Riders: multi-layered sounds, a deep and grounded ambiance that gets you into feelings, amazing guitar and bass work, and best of all, it’s a cosmic assault to your senses. The alchemy that went into creating We’ve Been Here Before coalesced and oozed into something that is gob-smacking.
When you release a fourteen-song follow-up to an album you released barely six months previously you’re either 1) beyond prolific, or 2) blessed with too much time on your hands. When the music involved possesses the quirkiness and diversity of German quintet Black Space Riders, it becomes an even more staggering achievement.Continue reading
German psych-rockers Black Space Riders released their amazing new album Amoretum Vol. 1 on their own Black Space Records earlier in the year. Ripple Music has announced that they have entered into an exclusive arrangement to distribute Amoretum Vol. 1, with Amoretum Vol. 2 marked for release later this year, through North America. Continue reading
From the beginning strains of ‘Lovely Lovlie’ I was hooked. ZOMG! Can I write that? ZOMG!! I was like, “Duuuuuuuuuuuuude, awwww yeah!” So yes, I really dug it and I was only a minute twenty-two in. So what, humble reader, am I gushing about? Black Space Riders’ Amoretum Vol. 1 (Black Space). This is the must have album of the year and it is still January. There is something primal about the sound of Amoretum Vol. 1. It’s an Earthy, natural sound that resonates in your bones. Continue reading
German psychedelic rockers Black Space Riders have debuted a new song, ‘Lovely Lovelie’. The track comes from their forthcoming new album, Amoretum Vol. 1, releasing on January 26th. Continue reading
When a band describes themselves as a ‘New Wave of Heavy Psychedelic Spacerock’, it really is hard not to be intrigued. Cue Black Space Riders, a five-piece band from ‘Space’ (well, actually Muenster in Germany, but I guess ‘Space’ sounds cooler). The psychedelic band formed in 2008, and Refugeeum (self-released/Cargo) is their fourth album.
Opening track ‘Vortex Sun’ is a fusion of progressive and psychedelic music, sounding unlike anything else in the music scene at the moment. Their unique style may seem strange, however, there is no deny that BSR are extremely talented. You may think that they would appeal to a rather niche audience, however, their music has been well-received by fans and critics alike.
It is hard to compare Black Space Riders to any other band in the music scene at the moment, however, it is clear that they are influenced by bands such as Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd, mainly due to the heavy yet mind-blowing riffs. It is almost as though they took a space-like/psychedelic twist on the classic metal genre.
It is easy to instantly dismiss music that sounds completely different from anything that you would usually listen to; however, if you enjoy unique and powerful music, then Black Space Riders may be your new favourite band. There is almost a stoner metal/doom element to their sound, which could easily appeal to fans across the progressive metal genre. Although their persona may seem strange or even tacky, Refugeeum is testament that you should not judge a band by their appearance: you may regret it.
8.0/10
JULIA CONOPO
German riffonauts Black Space Riders are entering the studio to record their fourth album with a Summer 2015 release date. The album is a follow up to last year’s release D:REI. Stream their music video for “Stare At The Water” below.
Stream the lyric video for “The GOD-Survivor” below.
JE: Lead vocals, guitars, melodies, riffs, words
SEB: Lead vocals, melodies, words
CRIP: Drums, vocals, additional songwriting
SLI: Guitars, additional songwriting
SAQ: Bass guitar, additional songwriting
Black Space Riders on Facebook
Black Space Riders on YouTube
German extraterrestrial heavy rockers BLACK SPACE RIDERS have released a new video for “Stare at the Water,” a track from their third album, D:REI, which was released earlier this year. Check out the video here. Check out the lyric video for “The GOD-Survivor” here.
The band is currently writing songs for their fourth album, which will be released in 2015.
Black Space Riders on Facebook
Black Space Riders on YouTube
Hailing from Münster, Germany, Black Space Riders are a quintet and self-proclaimed purveyors of space-rock. D: REI (BSR Records)is the group’s third album, and at 80 minutes, is more of a polished stoner prog epic than a simple rock album. The band is made up of Je (lead vocals, guitars), Seb (Also lead vocals), Sli (guitars), Saq (bass), and Crip (drums, vocals), and as with any releasing a prog album, there’s a concept. Each letter represents a different sequence of the album: D – Defiance, R – Ruins, E – Escape, I – Beyond, but there’s very little else tying the whole thing together; the music on offer swings from dirty Queens Of The Stage groove (‘Letter To Young Ones’) and melancholic doom (‘Major Tom Waits’) all the way to a stoner’s take on Nine Inch Nails industrial (‘Give Gravitation To The People’) and quiet prog melodies (‘I see’).
Musically and vocally this album is all over the place, which is good if you like to be kept guessing, but it means there’s a general lack of cohesion. The fact there’s two lead vocalists only adds to the confusion; one song you’re given Orange Goblin-esque barks, the next a deep baritone more suited to a goth rock, and it’s often the vocals which are the biggest turn off.
That being said, there’s plenty of impressive musicianship; massive riffs are delivered in spades, and despite there being a few too many average ones, there are some very impressive moments. ‘Major Tom Waits’, ‘Space Angel (Memitim)’ and album closer ‘The Everlasting Circle of Infinity’ are all enjoyable slabs of stoner rock.
Overall, D: REI is a mixed bag. Covering pretty much the entire spectrum of Sabbath-worshiping music, there are plenty of really enjoyable moments. But there’s also plenty of chaff in between and the whole thing could do with being about half an hour shorter.
6.5/10
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Dan Swinhoe
