Album review: THE NEW BLACK – A Monster’s Life

AFM Records [Release date 26.02.16]

“A Monster’s Life” is German band’s The New Black fourth release and follows on from the impressive “III : Cut Loose” from 2013. This time around, rather than self-producing again, they have enlisted famed Volbeat producer Jacob Hansen to handle the sound and an excellent job he has made.

Founded in Würzburg the band have maintained a constant line up from the start, namely Fludid on vocals, Christof Leim and Fabian Schwarz on guitars together with the rhythm section of Günt Auschrat on bass and Chris Weiss on drums.

A Monster’s Life is short and sweet – only 10 tracks and all clocking in under 4 minutes…but as they say it is quality and not quantity that counts…and quality is something that this has in mounds.

From opener Long Time Coming (think Alter Bridge with a twist of The Cult thrown in) through to closer That’s Your Poison, Not Mine (think Pop Evil maybe) melodic modern alternative metal (MMAM anyone…) rules supreme…

Several tracks are growers such as Blockbuster Life with a touch of Volbeat whilst others are more immediate…the strangely titled Buddha Belly (kids in the chorus…well it works) and Dead In The Water (a heavy Pop Evil springs to mind again for some reason) to name a couple. Send In The Clowns is almost Southern rock with its Black Stone Cherry-esque sound and lyrics. Not quite sure about A Pill Named Ting (eh??…) at the moment though…

Not as immediate as its predecessor but that gives “A Monster’s Life” time to grow. Another quality release from The New Black. ****

Review by Phil Berisford

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)