BMan, I’ve missed nearly a decade of The Black League. ‘Ghost Brothel’ is the Finnish quartet’s fifth record and first for new label Brainbomber. Things sure have changed a lot since the 2000 debut. Progressively, the group have morphed into this dark, bluesy hard rock band. It’s very Danzig at times, but that’s a cop-out comparison. This sort of thing could easily appeal to fans of Lordi and Mustasch if you wanted to dig below the headstone. “Malabarista” serves up a mid-tempo rocker with melody, hooks and a lively battery with enough clang on the cymbals for the pubs. “Until We Sail” and “Beast is a Riddle” rip 'n tear with blues riffing while the group slow things down to a crawl with bass-heavy "Bipolar Meltdown". It’s still an identity crisis, but a much more enjoyable one 9-years removed from the ice-breaking ‘Ichor’.
(Independent)
(Rivel Records)
(Southern Lord)
(Buried By Time & Dust)
(Independent)
(Nuclear Blast)
(Metal Blade)
(Napalm)
(Transcending Obscurity)
(Black Widow)
(Nuclear Blast)
(Miskatonic Foundation)
(Ripple Music)
(The End)
(Willowtip)
(Independent)
(Independent)
