I hate when the music industry tosses around the term “supergroup” willy-nilly but in the case of Black Swan the euphemism is actually quite fitting. The band really is made up of a lineup of superstar musicians with lead vocalist Robin McAuley (McAuley Schenker Group), guitarist Reb Beach (Winger/Whitesnake), bass guitarist Jeff Pilson (ex-Dokken/Foreigner), and drummer Matt Starr (Ace Frehley/Mr. Big). Their debut album ‘Shake The World’ did exactly that and the band is now back in all their hard rock glory with a brand new record ‘Generation Mind.’
An introductory track, ‘Before The Light,’ opens the album with an eerie feeling and blistering guitar solos. One thing is clear right from the start, Reb Beach is on fire. The intro leads us into the juggernaut riff of ‘She Hides Behind’ and we are off on a journey through melodic hard rock heaven. The title track is powerful and ferocious while ‘Eagles Fly’ is a showcase for the skills of Jeff Pilson with his pulsating bass lines driving the song home. Drummer Matt Starr provides the thunder ‘See You Cry,’ perhaps the heaviest track on the record.
From the very first note of ‘Killer On The Loose,’ I got an instant Scorpions vibe; it’s a killer track with searing guitars and a memorable hook and chorus. One of my favorite songs is ‘How Do You Feel,’ a real slow burn that has Robin McAuley at his best. In fact, Robin sounds absolutely fantastic throughout the record. It’s as if his voice hasn’t aged a bit over the years and I would give him a much-deserved spot in the category of top rock vocalists ever. Don’t miss the anthemic rocker ‘Crown’ which is sure to be a stand-out live and the album closer ‘I Will Follow’ which builds and builds in intensity until the magnificent denouement.
Black Swan has given us another masterpiece of melodic hard rock with ‘Generation Mind.’ It’s a modern take on ‘80s hard rock with a modern twist that will hopefully appeal to a whole new generation of music lovers. Add this one to your collection today.
- ‘Generation Mind’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
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