Kingcrimsonprog
V is the fifth full-length studio album by Black Country Communion, the band featuring “the voice of rock” Glen Hughes on bass and vocals, blues superstar Joe Bonamassa on guitar, ex-Dream Theater keyboardist Derick Sherinian and rounded off by Jason Bonham on the drums.
All of the band’s albums have an identifiable signature sound, and this one is no different. Its been seven years since their fourth album, but this album picks up right where they left off. The band do deliver the same kind of shamelessly Led Zep/Deep Purple flavoured hard rock with soulful moments and bluesy touches, but with big, thick, modern sounding production. If you like any of their other records, I can’t really imagine any reason why you wouldn’t lap this one up either.
Highlights include the first three tracks; the energetic opener “Enlighten,” the blatant Trampled-Underfoot evoking single “Stay Free” and perhaps the best song on the whole record, “Red Sun.”
Although, even though I mention highlights, its not like there are any low moments. The album is really solid and consistent, with no dips in quality and no skippable tracks. It may not be the most diverse album, with no real ragers, no ballads (there is a slower song but not quite a ballad), no intros, no epic long tracks, no instrumentals, no changes in musical direction, no experiments – just ten tracks of the band giving you exactly what you want. Some people may find that a bit boring sounding, but when its done this well it is just what the doctor ordered to be honest.