THE BLACK HALOES - WE ARE NOT ALONE
For a while during the late ‘90’s and early ‘00’s there was a lot of punk n roll bands running through. You had the Hellacopters, Gluecifer, Turbonegro, and the Murder City Devils which were the cream of the crop. You had some bands that flat out sucked, and then you had bands that never got the recognition they deserved. One band that ultimately fits that bill is the Black Halos, who now return with their fourth release, and first for Acetate Records.
“We Are Not Alone” is a little more melodic than these guys traditionally were. It still has a really dirty aesthetic to it, but the songs are as driving as their early work. Billy’s vocals are the same as they ever were. He embodies that New York Dolls, Iggy Pop, Johnny Thunders persona that is so important to carry a band like this. The tempo of the record is tones down from the punk rock of the early albums and has more of a classic Stooges sound. Not that the Stooges aren’t punk, it just isn’t as fast as these guys played in the past.
The title track for the album is very anthem like. :We Are Not Alone” kind of sounds like later day Ramones, where the songs were a little darker and a little slower, especially the “Brain Damage”era. Like the early albums by The Black Halos, this does not disappoint. They don’t rush out albums, they work them until they are done, and this is another really good offering.
