I can seriously count on one hand how many times I have really truly enjoyed a Salt Lake City local band. The first being Iceburn from back in the day. Then in the mid 90's it was Ehco Seven, late 90's, Headtrip. In the early 2000's it was Form of Rocket (if you have not experinced any of these bands I suggest you look them up). My new favorite, Light/Black consists of vocalist / bassist Carrie Wakefield, guitarist Levi Lebo, guitarist Danielle Marriott, and drummer Joshua Asher. The band's sound can best be described as a glorious mix of Veruca Salt (circa American Thighs), with the dissonance of Mary Timony's Helium, the heaviness of Young Widows and the haziness of True Widow. All with a slight hint of Neurosis inspired post-metal/doom. Basically, Light/Black is the perfect concoction of every thing I love about rock music.

I first stumbled upon this band at last summer's Chelsea Wolfe concert (read my intial reaction here). Light/Black were the openers and upon the first note I was immediately enthralled by their unique vibe and sound. Far to often bands, especially local bands fall into the trap of impersonating their favorite artists and come across as sounding like either a rip of that band or a bland version of whatever genre they are trying to emulate  This is not the case with Light/Black they have seemed to combine all the coolest parts about bands and sounds they love and combine it into a fresh concoction of thick gloom-rock amazingness. After their set ended that night I approached guitarist Lebo, confessed my love for his band and asked where I could find their music. I was almost brought to tears when he said that the band didn't really have anything out yet, but was immediately reassured that they were going into the studio to record their debut.

Well that day has finally come and Light/Black have finally released their self-titled debut and it is everything I had hoped for and more. I could tell as soon as the first track "Skelton Women" started playing that I was in for a treat, but when the second track "The Gift" followed that's when I started to realize that I might have a new favorite local band.  There's just something about the way all the elements in "The Gift" work that make it spectacular. I love the way the bass line rolls, how the drums pound along with the distorted melancholy guitars, and the almost indifferent vocals over the top of all of it. Such a great song. The rest of album is just good with track three "One Good Turn" featuring a really great building lead guitar line in the verses. All the individual members of Light/Black seem to work perfectly with one and other, almost as if the entire band has some how mind-melded together. For a band that hasn't been around that long they really  have a knack of working together as a cohesive unit. Each instrument dropping out or fading in at the exact right time and all the while Wakefield's genuine throwback vocals floating or soaring along as needed.

Once the album hits its midway point another highlight occurs with the slower, more somber tracks, "The Company You Keep" and "Red Desert". The mellow vibe of these songs almost have a hopeful sadness to them and they also serve as a slight breather from all the pounding dissonance the majority of the album provides. The assault picks up again in the later half of the album, but almost with a more spaced out menacing feel to it. Like the band knows that you've already been defeated, but they don't feel like killing you off just yet. Then the final track "Weird Sisters" drops and finishes you off with a  lullaby provided by Wakefields voice and the casual sledge hammer pummel of the bands playing. With this closing track Light/Black kills you kindly and swiftly, a truly noble way to die.

The band was nice enough to send me an advanced copy of this album about a month ago and I have since spent almost every other day listening to it from start to finish. I am slowly coming to the conclusion that this might be the album of the year for me. I know that there is still another six months of 2013 to come, but Light/Black's debut is going to be hard to beat. The album officially drops this Saturday May 25th at their release show at Urban Lounge in Salt Lake City and I highly recommend you either attend the show or download a copy of the album. Because there is nothing like the soft/brutality provided by the dreamy heaviness that is Light/Black.

Disclaimer: I am not personal friends with the band (although I would like to be).

Rating: 5/5

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