Heavy Metal Textbooks

BLACK ELEPHANT: Cosmic Blues

Italian Rockers' Third Album Establishes Them As Stoner Rock Elite:

I heard this the night it came out, as a result of being on Small Stone Records' mailing list.  I loved it instantly, and a month later I still can't get enough of it.  Black Elephant's first two albums are both very good, but time and experience have helped the band diversify their sound and to produce one of the best stoner rock albums of the year to date.  The first two albums shared a consistent all-out aggressive stoner metal sound, but Cosmic Blues manages to keep the same level of heaviness while incorporating a greater variety of rock influences.  

The lead track, "Cosmic Soul", exemplifies this variety well, and shows why I feel they have transitioned from a "stoner metal" to a "stoner rock" category. 

The very next track, "Helter Skelter" (not a cover) shows fans of the two early albums that Black Elephant has not lost its aggressiveness:

Every tune on this album is masterful, and you can pick it up today here on Small Stone Records' Bandcamp page.

Black Elephant formed in Savona, Italy in the year 2010.  They are:

Alessio Caravelli  (guitar & vocals)
Massimiliano Giacosa  (guitar)
Marcello De Stefanis  (bass)
Simone Brunzu  (drums)

Great rock music is still alive and well, coming from all over the globe; you just have to know where to find it.  Hope I am helping some of you to find great music that's new to you.

Until next time...

-ULTRA