Who: Vancouver quintet Black Mountain, a band of psychedelic hard rockers who have already garnered buzz on the strength of their 2005 eponymous debut and high-profile gigs like their stint opening for Coldplay.
Sounds Like: A high-voltage mix of Black Sabbath riffs, Pink Floyd's Syd Barrett-era psychedelic sensiblity and the Flaming Lips' eccentricity. On their sophomore album In the Future, the band embraces their lava lamp-worshipping side, balancing stoner-rock opuses with ambient harmonies. "It's heaviness mixed with fragility," says frontman Stephen McBean. Case in point: the eight-minute epic "Tyrants," which bounces from the softer moments of Black Sabbath's Masters of Reality to the crunching guitars of Black Flag's Damaged.
Vital Stats:
• During a show in Oklahoma City in 2005, the band realized the Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne was in the crowd. Impressed by what he saw, Coyne invited the band to crash at his house. "In the morning, we looked outside, and Wayne had all these bubble machines going," says co-vocalist Amber Webber, "He gave us one, and we used it on tour."
• As a thirteen-year-old, a punk band that McBean was in opened for one of Dave Grohl's pre-Nirvana Washington, D.C. hardcore incarnations. McBean's teen years also included frequently cutting class, an affinity for punk rock and a stint living homeless after running away from home.
• Coldplay handpicked Black Mountain to open for them during their 2005 tour. "That was surreal," says McBean, "Gwyneth Paltrow was backstage. I lost to her in ping-pong."
Hear It Now: Black Mountain's In the Future hits shelves January 22nd. In the meantime, you could check out their MySpace page to hear their epic "Tyrants" or watch the above video for "Druganaut" from their first self-titled album.
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Big10inRecord | March 12, 2008 3:45 PM
I've been listening to In The Future nonstop since the day I bought it right after seeing them play on Conan. Maybe I'm just obsessed at the moment, or just really excited to hear something from today that I actually want to hear live, but I think this band is going to be huge. At least I hope they're going to be huge. They're sound is reminiscent of everything rock used to be while still feeling fresh and original. If you're curious you gotta give them a listen, I doubt you'll regret it.
squish | March 10, 2008 1:10 PM
not nearly as good as The Sword if it's that heavy early 70s vibe you're looking for
Mike NYY | March 1, 2008 9:05 AM
Somehow they figured out how to combine Black Flag, Black Sabbath, and Pink Floyd. Geniuses. Second Best Breaking Artist yet right behind Year Long Disaster
INDIE REVOLUTION | February 20, 2008 6:57 PM
This band have a very special sound! Very good!
Ham | February 5, 2008 11:46 AM
Black Mountain are insane. in the future is already one of my favorite albums to be released in the last couple years. Their sound is straight from the 70's. Good to hear this kind of stuff coming out amongst all the shit music being played on radio and tv.
Mark | January 25, 2008 2:26 AM
Black Mountain is coming to Halifax, NS, Canada for the first time late in February. This is the real shit!
gator guy | January 23, 2008 7:23 PM
I agree with Rodney, I too live Asheville and they will be in town next month . I'll be there and so will my friends. Plus, I'm 54 years old and these guys are better than 90% of the crap that is charting nowadays. Now, if they can do a concert with Steve Wynn that would be a show to see!!!
Aaron Lamb | January 18, 2008 12:40 AM
Just an amazing album. I've played the Evil Ways track for all my friends and they all love it. You can hear the whole album on their myspace website.
rfmitch67 | January 16, 2008 2:20 PM
Love the first CD....it was in heavy rotation on in my car all last year. Heavy and groovy...Black Sabbath meets Talking Heads with some King Crimson "21st Century Schizoid Man" horns added for flavor. Truly original and I can't wait for the the new CD!!!
basser | January 14, 2008 12:37 PM
An eight-minute song? Now now, Rolling Stone magazine, you used to (and still) beat up on bands like Yes and King Crimson for having songs longer than 4 minutes.
Good luck to Black Mountain, but isn't Rolling Stone a little behind the curve here? The band opened for Coldplay in 2005, pretty much three years ago .....
someone | January 12, 2008 7:16 PM
1, 1, 2?
Rodney Rowland | January 10, 2008 5:06 PM
These guys kick major ass! I just got my free download from ordering the new cd and it's killer! Can't wait to see them when they play Asheville!
MD | January 10, 2008 3:13 PM
Phenomenal band. But if you see them live, make sure you are hella stoned.
Rockstar70 | January 10, 2008 12:13 PM
What a bunch of Crunchies!!!
What about ROCK N ROLL!!
marnr67 | January 10, 2008 12:11 PM
wow, rolling stone you've never advertised so whole heartily for a band with so little originality since you put Wolfmother at number 15 of the top 50 albums of 2006.
these guys most certainly suck. Their influences are about a thousand times more listenable than the actual band, and their self titled 2005 record is the most flacid of the decade.
Josh | January 10, 2008 11:04 AM
I've seen these guys live and they are kick-butt. Sabbath + Jefferson Airplane.
Rodney Rowland | January 10, 2008 9:31 AM
This band is awesome! You can pre-order their new cd at http://www.blackmountainarmy.com and receive a free download of the new cd, which rocks, two weeks before it comes out. And go see them live!
Pete | January 10, 2008 1:24 AM
Way to catch on Rolling Stone. They were one of the best shows I saw last year.
michelle | January 9, 2008 7:28 PM
this band is so groovy! I love them. They're actually cover worthy!