Get those middle fingers raised and hail the return of the mighty Black Spiders! The band are back with most of the original line up in place and they are rocking as hard as ever. The only noticeable absence is of former drummer ‘Tiger’ Si Atkinson who has been replace by Planet Rock’s own Wyatt Wendells and whilst I am sure Wyatt will pull off the drumming part no problem I am not too sure he will be able to replicate the face pulling antics of Si!

It may be 4 years since the band last played, but listening to this album it’s like the intervening four years had never happened. From the opening chords of ‘Fly In My Soup’ it’s clear that Black Spiders have lost none of their groove or swagger in the downtime and it’s clear that Wyatt was the right man to fill the vacant drum stool.

‘Stabbed In The Back’ keeps the pace up before things get slow and very heavy with ‘Wizard Shall Not Kill Wizard’ which reminds me of Sabbath’s ‘War Pigs’ which is no bad comparison to draw. Pete Spiby’s vocal delivery is spot on, sonorous and menacing at the same time which is perfect for the malevolent riff laden melody.

‘Back In The Convent’ focuses on a Catholic girls school, I think there may be some confessions required there! ‘Give ‘Em What They Want’ rocks and leads into the band’s cover of ‘Good Times’ the old Jimmy Barnes and INXS song which they do a great job on.

The rest of the album ebbs and flows with fast paced rockers rubbing shoulders with heavy, doom laden slabs of metal as black as the Earl of Hell’s waistcoat. What doesn’t change though is the quality of the song writing or the top notch musicianship which has always been a feature of the band.

Other songs of note on the album are the melodic ‘Free Ride’ with some tasty twin guitar in the chorus, the frantic ‘No Luck No Bones’ and the epic ‘Crooked Black Wings’ which rides along on a great riff with plenty of melody and harmony thrown in for good measure.

This is a great comeback album from a band which have been much missed by many during their hiatus. Can’t wait to see the guys live again as a Black Spiders show is always an event not to be missed.

FUBS! So good to have you back.  ****

Review by Dave Wilson