Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Formed in 1998, Southern Black Sand was once known as Waste. After the release of thier first 6-track CD, THERAPY, the band changed their name to SOUTHERN BLACK SAND. THERAPY was hailed with good reviews in several magazines. The SOUTHERN BLACK SAND promo album was recorded in 2005, and shortly afterwards H enry, the bassist, was replaced by Rick Constantino.

Southern Black Sand sneaks up on you on the album with rocket cockpit sound effects that give way to a CD that displays hardcore sound, and produces a fist pumping drum beat with intensely ripping guitar riffs. The vocals are angsty, in-your-face, but a little drown out by the music. The band gets a A for effort.

However, the album seemed to lack variety. All five songs sound like one continuous drone. Honestly, if the number on the CD changer had not changed, you hardly notice where one song ends and another picks up; except that each song seems to start out at a distance and then come at you sudddenly with full force. The the first track is DISAPPEAR {level 1} and the fifth and last track is DISAPPEAR {level 2}, which picks up where level one left off, in short making book ends for a perfectly matched set of three songs.

But beyond that, I did enjoy the aggressiveness and the musical arrangement. Southern Black Sand is coming along just in time to catch the coattails of this genres rise in popularity, so they are sure to find sucess and thrash enthusiast will love them!