Opening for Jane’s Addiction seems like a recipe for disaster. How can you appease fans looking forward to the perverse delight that only Jane’s Addiction can deliver? That was what was facing Belgian duo Black Box Revelation at The Paramount. Not an easy task but Black Revelation handled this trial by fire with grace and pounding rock dignity.
Black Box Revelation- High On A Wire
Black Box Revelation consists of Dries Van Dijck on drums and Jan Paternoster on guitar and vocals. Black Box Revelation has made a name for itself with several releases in Europe and are planning to do the same thing in America. With the release of the Shiver of Joy EP and tours with Meat Puppets, Beady Eye and now Jane’s Addiction, Black Box Revelation is on the right track.
Read more of the review and a full gallery from the night after the jump.
The muscular duo continues to prove that less is more. Atmospheric and riff heavy, Black Box Revelation churn out guitar driven moody numbers that plays to the strengths of traditional rock music. A touch of blues, soul, scuzzy guitars, crushing drums and you are on the right track of what to expect from Black Box Revelation.
Black Box Revelation feel like a band you have heard before but never get old or out of style. There’s undeniable appeal to someone just rocking out and hearing a heavy stomping drum beat. Elephants stampeding, bulls in a china shop kind of lack of finesse that leather jackets were made for and what Black Box Revelation thrive in.
Riffs and licks, hooks and extended outros you know you are in for a good time with flashing lights, heavy swaths of blues and reds and straight forward solos. Songs like “Love Licks” or “My Perception” are noisy, concussive blasts of fun that never feel heavy or weighed down. There is no excess to be found and the lean sound was well received by the fans who came out early.
The new single, “High on a Wire,” was a natural highlight of the night and perfectly encapsulated the feel of Black Box Revelation. Thudding drums that you can clap or stomp along with and an extended, swaggering guitar line throughout the song as Paternoser’s vocals guide the proceedings.
As they closed their set, Black Box Revelation definitely made an impression and didn’t feel out of place in America. It was easy to see why they have plenty of fans in Europe. Black Box Revelation continue the legacy of fuzzed out rock that has a touch of blues and attitude to spare.
