New Music Review: Black Stone Cherry – Magic Mountain

                It’s been three years since the last Black Stone Cherry album, and in that time, not a whole lot has changed musically.  This is not a knock on the band or the new album Magic Mountain as it is just as good as the previous three releases from the band.  To be perfectly honest, in an era when every band was trying to sound like Nickelback, Black Stone Cherry set itself apart by blending southern rock with grunge and metal influences, creating a heavy sound that was equally melodic.  Where Nickelback was heavy rock that hit you over the head with a hammer of suck, Black Stone Cherry was more subtle, using its influences to craft a sound all its own instead of trying to create a sound that mimicked anyone else. 

                In the eight years since the release of their self-titled debut (eight years, holy shit I’m getting old) Black Stone Cherry has perfected the formula of heavy southern rock more so than anyone I have ever seen.  The music is meaty, the bottom end of the band keeps churning along while the guitars fly alongside in perfect accompaniment.  I wouldn’t make the case for any of the band members being the best at their respective positions, but with Black Stone Cherry it’s not about having the best guitarist or drummer and building around that.  Black Stone Cherry is truly a cohesive unit, as much of a real band as I have ever seen. 

                Magic Mountain itself goes from heavy to light in terms of its song selection, creating a nice balance and breaking up any monotony that could come from fifteen heavy songs (which is a very “hair metal” way of thinking).  Standout tracks for me were the first single “Me and Mary Jane” and “Hollywood in Kentucky”.  They both epitomize the best of the heavy songs and the softer, countryish selections respectively. 

                If you’ve been waiting around for another Skynrd album or wish your southern rock was a bit more rock and a bit less southern…Black Stone Cherry is the band for you.  All four albums in their catalog are interchangeable so I can’t really recommend one over the other, but Magic Mountain is as good a place as any to start.