Band : The Black Halos

Album title : We're Not Alone

Label : People Like You

Distributor : Hard Life Promotion

Release date : 17/03/2008

Release : CD

Vancouver (Canada) based Punk Rockers The Black Halos started their live in 1993/4 as Black Market Babies , and they grew in profile having done a couple of West Coast tours in support of The Murder City Devils , but by the time they had time enough to stop in a studio to record their Jack Endino produced 1998 released self-titled debut (released through Die Young Stay Pretty/ Sub Pop ) they had made their name change. A continued and increased heavy touring schedule throughout the whole of North-America then saw the band sharing stages with The Murder City Devils (again), American Heartbreak , D.O.A ., Gang Green , Wayne Kramer , L7 , Lost Goat , Nebula , Streetwalkin' Cheetahs , Nikki Sudden , Supersuckers , The Catheters , The Donnas , The Dragons , The Gimmics , The Hellacopters , The Vibrators , Zeke , and Zen Guerilla , and growing to be the prime purveyors of Canadian Punk Rock 'n' Roll!

2001 saw sophomore album The Violent Years (again produced by Jack Endino ) being released again on Sub Pop in the US, with a higher profile in Canada & Japan ( Warner in both cases, and of course with the obligatory exclusive bonus tracks for the Japanese version), which the band again promoted heavily with extensive touring, this time with The Offspring , Gob , Millencolin , and dates on the Warped Tour . The heavy schedule eventually took its toll, as TBH decided to call it quits towards the end of 2002.

However, following offers to play Spain with such bands as Danzig , Electric Frankenstein , Arthus Lee & Love , and last but not least Zen Guerilla eventually led to the band's reformation some 18 months later, albeit with new bassist Denyss McKnight & guitarist Adam Becvare (the latter formerly with none other than the legendary Lords Of The New Church , where he replaced the late Stiv Bators ) now joining mainstays Billy Hopeless (lead vocals), Johnny Stewart (guitar) and drummer Rob Zgaljic . They haven't looked back since, and made their comeback with the (again Endino produced) 2005 album Alive Without Control , issued through Liquor And Poker Music/ Century Media . The album got rave reviews, but apparently didn't sell enough for CM to hold onto the band, because the band is now distributed in Euopre by Germany's People Like You ...and frankly, it's a much better place for them to be anyways!

Leading up to the release of the new album, PLY recently re-issued the first two albums of the band, but of course the fans of the band because it's quite certain that their 3 rd album gained The Black Halos uite a few European fans indeed) probably already had those. On the other side, they wére strictly North-American releases (except for the 2 nd album, which also appeared in Japan), and therefore certainly difficult to get. A difficulty which has now been remedied! And of course the biggest anticipation was for the new album!

Another thing which has now been remedied, eh? I have to say, the quintet's music (bass of which now comes played by one Jahmeel "JR" Russell ) is darn addictive, because I fell from one listening session into another, hardly giving myself the time to breathe between the moment the 12 th song stopped and me pushing the "play" button on the cd-player yet again! As Punk Rock goes, TBH believes in the melodic '77 style which is not devoid of some mildly intricate guitar work. As hypnotic as the music is in its own right, the lead singer's signature voice brings in an extra which sets the band aside and on top of their genre. You see, he's got this rough and hoarse voice with a slight lisp (you know, stressing on the letter "s" everytime he comes across it) which brings him an touch of autenticity beyond compare. He's often backed by rather clear (and obviously higher pitched) vocals by one or more of the other members, which brings a nice counterbalance to that weird voice. The album is yet again produced by Jack Endino whom, as Hopeless puts it, "has become like the sixth Halo and has truly captured our twisted vision so we can unleash it on an unsuspecting world!".

For your pre-album-buying listening session, surf to myspace.com/blackhalos, where you can not only listen to 3 tracks off older albums (but still very representative for the high-enegry Punk 'n' Roll of the band), but also to "Love And War" off the new one. If you prefer the live environment, check out the same page, and...europe, be warned: TBH will be playing in a theater near you pretty soon (after rounding up more dates in North-America during March, they'll be on oùr continent, travelling through Holland, Germany, France, Scandinavia, Italy, Portugal, and Spain (and of course Belgium: JOC De Narcist in Temse on April 26 th , L'Entrepôt in Arlon on the 27th) up to the end of May. Look out for this top class act...which has deserved every right to be featured in the top of your year-lists (and mine)!

98/100

Tony.