BLACKTOP MOJO – ARTIST SPOTLIGHT & ALBUM REVIEW

Blacktop Mojo is a hard hitting rock band from Palestine, Texas who have just released their fourth album aptly entitled Blacktop Mojo. Formed in 2012 by vocalist Matt James and drummer Nathan Gillis, the group has developed a driving sound that encompasses elements of hard rock and grunge with a classic rock foundation. The remaining members of the quintet are Ryan Keifer (Guitar), Chuck Wepfer (Guitar) and Matt Curtis (Bass).

Self describing their music as “Texas Grunge”. Blacktop Mojo count Soundgarden and Lynyrd Skynyrd as major influences. The new full length follows three fantastic records that garnished the group a series of charting singles even though they were independently released. 2014 brought I Am and in 2017 they dropped Burn The Ships which yielded two top 40 singles, “Where The Wind Blows”  and the Aerosmith cover, “Dream On”. In 2018, they locked themselves in their band house and penned “Under The Sun” which again gave them another charted single in “Can’t Sleep”. All the while constantly touring and building their fanbase. Their electrifying live shows are legendary.

Enter the pandemic and Blacktop Mojo returned to hunker down in the band house to write new music. The result is the intrepid Blacktop Mojo which was distributed this month to every streaming outlet. Blacktop Mojo is a ferocious beast of an album. It is full of intense fury and sonic explosions. Evert song has an emboldened attribute that delivers a barrage of aural depth. Blacktop Mojo delved deep into their musical souls to create a brazen landside of a disc.

Just listen to the first song, “Wicked Woman”. It’s a kick ass track that discharges a thunderous wall of sound. James’ vocals are powerful and intensely aggressive. The guitars wail like banshees and Curtis’ bass lays down a solid groove. Gillis’ drums hit you with a hammering surge of forceful vitality. The tune is a monstrous banger that has an incendiary spark. Blacktop Mojo extends the fire on “Bed Tundy”. The blues vibe is infectious and the guitar solo is blistering. The song has an edgy feel with devastating backing vocals and a pulverizing cadence.

“Latex” slows the rhythm down and you can feel the atmospheric ambiance that Blacktop Mojo can lay down. The song definitely has a Soungarden feel with its grungy vocals and dark psychedelic overtones. The track shows the potent variety of the band’s strong songwriting skills. “Rewind” is a mid tempo rocker with a dramatic backbeat and emotive vocals. Again, the guitar solo is a highlight.

“Jealousy” is a solid rock ballad with an ethereal guitar lick and a killer bass line. You can clearly feel James’ resilient and impassioned yearning. “Jealousy” showcases Blacktop Mojo‘s use of sublime arrangements and their intonation of fierce fragility. “Make Believe’ is a short interlude that boasts an airy Spanish guitar and celestial vocals. “Darlin’ I Won’t Tell” reignites the flame with sweeping vocals and a memorable orchestration. Gillis’ percussions have a tenacious excellence with a deeply muscular tone.

“Do It for the Money” discharges a Black Crowes vibe with crunchy blues guitars and a pummeling bass line. The song brings back Blacktop Mojo‘s rock fever. The track just cranks and Gillis’ drums are major focal point with his pounding verve. “Hold Me Down” is a countrified tune that brings the Lynyrd Skynyrd influence into play. It definitely focuses on another fascinating aspect of the band’s enterprising dynamic. “Cough”  and “Stratus Melancholia” bring back the grunge. Here, Blacktop Mojo guitars carry the day with their deep toned textures. Also, James’ vocals add an incredible gritty accent which reminds one of Chris Cornell. Welcome to Seattle.

Blacktop Mojo closes out the record with the impressive “Tail Lights” which is actually one of my favorite tracks. The song displays the insane vigor of James’ voice. “Tail Lights” somber passionate cry resonates far and wide. I can see the cell phone flashlights filling the arena.

Blacktop Mojo have created a tenacious release with Blacktop Mojo which will certainly catapult the band to the head of the class. They have recorded one of the best albums in recent memory. Everything clicks and the variety of genres is astounding. Blacktop Mojo is a voracious behemoth of a band stampeding themselves into musical stardom.

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To learn more about Blacktop Mojo, check out their website

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Stream music:  Spotify / Apple Music 

Purchase:  Amazon 

 

 

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