Frontiers Music [Release date : 27.02.26]
Four years after Black Swan’s second album, Generation Mind, comes Paralysed, with the four horsemen, Robin McAuley, Reb Beach, Jeff Pilson and Matt Starr riding quickly into view.
So called “supergroups”, of which this is one, often fall apart when hubris gets in the way of teamwork and good judgement.
These musicians are decidedly old school, in music and in attitude. They’ve been there, done that, They know better. They know what works, what doesn’t. They know that opener, ‘When The Cold Wind Blows’ needs to announce itself with the thunder and lightning of big-scale heavy rock. And it does. And then goes a step further, pushing a pounding, fast moving riff and a soaring chorus into symphonic metal territory.
Reb Beach shows his never ending guitar inventiveness on ‘Death Of Me’, teeing up a powerful verse and McAuley’s declamatory chorus “I used to be the man of the moment, but now I don’t care at all”. It’s a track that bundles up self reflection and reincarnation in a rock song lyric. Who’d a thought?
‘If I Was King’s 60 seconds of controlled guitar mayhem leads into another smart lyric. ‘The Fire And The Flame’ is similar, both offering a thrilling hi-speed drama that reaches further, lyrically, than the song title suggests. Thanks, among other things, to McAuley’s visceral vocal delivery, and the arrangements’ rich hybrid of hard rock and heavy metal
A (very) slightly reined back arrangement on ‘Shakedown’ gives the production a bit of breathing room, providing an opportunity to focus a little more on the Starr/ Pilson bolted to the floor, Clydebuilt rhythm section. It’s as much about craftsmanship as it is about musicality, a balance not easily achieved.
Inevitably, there’s a ballad. ‘I’m Ready’. Hard to read. Do the words form a lovelorn lyric or a heartfelt prayer ? It’s a puzzle. What’s for sure is that the band give it all they’ve got, offering equal parts excitement, heft and lyrical content.
Just like the rest of the album, in fact. ****1/2
Review by Brian McGowan
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Power Plays w/c 16 February 2026
THE ANCIENT UNKNOWN Separated (indie)
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ARGOVIA Ebb & Flow (Presagio Records)
XO SOUNDTRACK Talk About Me (indie)
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