The Silverblack hails from Torino, Italy, and was founded by multi-instrumentalist Alessio Nero Argento. The purpose was created heavy but catchy industrial tunes, influenced by a huge number of bands and styles. When I listen to the songs on 'The Grand Turmoil' bands like The Kovenant, Pain, Sisters Of Mercy, Amduscia, Combichrist, Pendulum, Diary Of Dreams and Oomph come to mind. Quite a varied bunch of noise-makers, indeed, but The Silverback turns it all into something violently entertaining.
The album opens with title track 'The Grand Turmoil', showing the metal side of the band by coming very close to The Kovenant or Samael. Yet, like all the songs, this one drives on an impressive wave of electronics and issues angry, almost black metal, vocals. From here on it's clear that The Silverback is not just another metal band trying to do something new. They're here to take over the industrial scene, grabbing fans in every direction of the genre.
If the opener doesn't do the trick, the brilliant 'Anymore' definitely will. This song has the same energy and power as Pain's 'Shut Your Mouth' and pretty much the same elements as well. I can easily imagine this being a live-favorite, evoking a moshpit in front of the stage and a packed dancefloor right behind it. This is my favorite song on this album, one I love to sing along when I'm doing some household tasks. Yes, I caught myself shouting 'you won't fuck me anymore' at the dishes.
But if you throught The Silverblack played all their trumps at these two songs, you'll be in for some more surprises. This act isn't weary of drum & bass and dubstep basslines either, resulting in extremely energetic songs. Imagine Pendulum with fierce vocals and dito guitars and you might get an idea of what several of these songs sound like. It's very hard to sit still on this music, and that's a fact. Just listen to 'Pyromanservant'.
For those who think drum & bass and dubstep are way too modern and overrated, The Silverblack didn't forget about you. 'As Good As Dead' and 'Attic Hime' will please you. Think Atrocity's 'Werk 80' or think a mix Blutengel and Hocico with guitars, or thing Hanzel und Gretyl, Die Krupps, Frankenstein Drag Queens. Hell, you can even think Rammstein if you want. The Silverblack has it all: heaviness, darkness, danceability... it's all here and it comes with a perfect sound.
So yes, this is an amazing album, filled with modern metal scene smash hits which will cause frenzied audiences everywhere they go. Or at least, that's what I'm hoping for. I surely hope to be a member of one of those audiences in the near future. I can recommend this album to every industrial and nu-metal fan out there, young and old. The Silverblack is coming and there's no way to stop them from taking over.
Serge