Black Pope showcases the cinematic darkness and macabre, atmospheric intensity of his gothic rock ‘n’ sound on his exciting debut album
Armed with a distinctive sound that feels both nostalgic and fiercely raw and exciting, Irish-born rock ‘n’ roll artist Black Pope has singled himself out as a wholly unique and revitalising prospect in modern music over the last few years, with the release of his debut album White Smoke looking to cement his status as one of the underground’s most exciting rising stars.
The upbeat guitar strut of ‘Atom Bomb’ kicks things off, with the artist’s charismatic charm and brash sense of personality and confidence flooding the track and release full of the artist’s unique feel at the earliest possible juncture. The upbeat and driving, yet slightly haunting nature of the instrumentation and energy and character that Black Pope displays through his vocal delivery do a great job of articulating some of the themes and what to expect from the collection of tracks, and makes for a suitably fun time.
The guitar riffs take on a sleazier and more laid-back feel on ‘Goth Girl’, a track that oozes with a cool sense of composure and slickness, again anchored by the artist’s distinctive vocal drawl, the track delves into themes of lust, rebellion and romance with a swagger and charm that feels insatiable.
The frenetic, atmospheric sprint of ‘Werewolf, Man’ continues to showcase some of the spookier and more theatrical aspects of the artist’s sound, whereas ‘Twist and Scream’ creates its intense atmosphere in a more subdued and nonchalant fashion, with each other them creating a sense of occasion and a thoroughly distinctive feel in their own ways.
The slow-tempo stomp of ‘Night of the Long Tongues’ is another track that showcases the way that Black Pope utilises his instrumentation to create a real sense of atmosphere and build a palpable sense of tension, with its deliberate instrumentation and bass-heavy feel doing a great job of concocting the sense of unease that so much of album thrives within.
‘She’s Alive’ sparks things back to life in dramatic fashion, embodying a 50’s inspired rock ‘n’ roll sound that feels as adrenaline-fuelled as anything on the album, delving into themes like love and resilience in the kind of twisted and unhinged fashion that Black Pope relishes, putting something of a macabre spin on the classic love song.
The beautifully arranged and poignant ‘Black Love’ is a track that eschews the drama and spectacle of the album for a more stripped-back and earnest feeling love song that provides a stark contrast to the rest of the album. There are still these unsettling and dark moments that seep through, but there is a really moving and heartfelt core to this track that shines through and makes for really powerful and sobering listening.
‘Demon Stomp’ shifts us straight back to our more cinematic and familiar surroundings, ushering in almost seven minutes of unhinged, unabashed rock ‘n’ roll that encompasses themes like non-conformity and the occult in intense, narrative heavy fashion. The track has a really unique feel to it, even on this album, and perfectly embodies the off-centre charm and ambitious sense of scope that Black Pope represents.
The album closes out with perhaps one of its most brooding and intense moments in the form of ‘I Still Feel Like a Virgin’, a track that sees the artist tap into a sense of vulnerability while maintaining this intensely haunting aesthetic and unsettling vibe that has saturated the album. One of the most impressive things about the album has been how the artist can ghost between different styles and influences while maintaining this unique feel that dominates his work, and it lingers with you throughout its final track as long after it finishes.
