poppedmusic

I’m Not Well

Released 19th August 2016

Words: Gary Lambert

Welcome to The School of Black Foxxes. First year is a study in American rock 1991-2010 in the form of debut album I’m Not Well. Whilst this three piece are from Exeter in the sleepy south-west of England, their musical sound is very much from the other side of the Atlantic with hard crushing sounds from the word go inspired by some of the very best heavy rock in history. There are hints of Pearl Jam, My Chemical Romance, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers and even a drop or two of Bon Jovi (sorry lads but there was a definite Wanted: Dead or Alive – Bon Jovi’s only acceptable song – in Slow Jams Forever).

This album opens with the title track, I’m Not Well, and as you would expect it is not going to be anything subtle. This is not a thrash fest though, but rather a reminder of the days of grunge when rock was loud and powerful, but spoke to millions of people around the globe about life, love and soul rather than the previous decades excess of boy’s club and high-pitched vocals and guitars took rock music to a nadir of superficiality. This is the kind of song that audiences go quiet for to allow the atmosphere to build. And then quick as a flash enjoy jumping around like Tigger on speed as the song hits the power chords.

Although there is a certain motif that runs throughout the album in the sound of the band, it is not a repetition of the same format over and over. Take, for example, mid-album highlight How We Rust. This has no singalong chorus or moshpit moment. Instead it is the kind of emotional piece that makes the likes of Black Foxxes stand out from the bands thrashing around every day of the week. It shows that this band has a lot more in the armoury.

The early-mentioned Slow Jams Forever is the penultimate song on the album, but it is the greatest tune without doubt. Full of ambition, passion, volume and thudding this could fit in any rock collection on earth. It sounds inspiring and mountainous. Yet it is not so difficult that the average man on the street would find it a terrifying piece of violence, Satanic rock music.

I am really impressed by I’m Not Well. I am convinced that there is a rebirth of rock music coming soon, a uniting of the sub-genres and a challenge to the orthopaedic dinosaurs which still headline festivals and sell out arenas. I am not saying Black Foxxes could be the prophesied gang to pull the sword from the stone and slay the dragon, but they’re going to get the attention of more than just me – and soon enough somebody will do that.

Listen to I’m Not Well here: