Band: Reactive Black Album: Upcoming Evil Label: Independent Rating: 8/10 Website: http://www.reactive-black.net BUY NOW!

I recently reviewed a Gothic metal duo called Temujin. Their music contained everything that I hate in Gothic metal and therefore…logically I should have disliked them, but I found myself a lot more willing to listen than I ever had before and I wondered…is it something about the number of members of the band! I hate the sound effects, the deep yet meaningless lyrics and the vocals! Well, here I have another Gothic two-piece by the name of ‘Reactive Black’ and, once again, their music is full of those things which make gothic metal one of my least favourite genre with the word metal in it’s name. However, yet again I find myself, however hard I try not to, liking this band if anything even more than Temujin! The opening song, ‘Days of Decay’, begins with an inevitable special effect but all is well as a powerful guitar sequence begins shortly and engulfs the effect with it’s metal might, and what a sound it is. The texture reminding me more of Toni Iomi than anything but don’t envisage this duet sounding like Sabbath…far from it. It is just the best way I can describe the dominating guitar. The vocals seem darker and heavier than in most Goth bands and even the lyrics are of the nature that I can actually relate to rather than the usual crap that the genre throws at us. Not believing that this can continue, I am surprised to learn that the second song is even heavier and more aggressive whilst still, it must be said, retaining a Gothic metal feel. The third song brings me back to earth when I hear an organ style intro, nevertheless, it is not long before yet another awesome riff is produced and by this time…I am enjoying myself! The rest of the songs follow much the same trend and while, on my first listen, I was just waiting for each next song to put me off, on my second, I was able to relax and take pleasure in listening to it. For my liking, there were still too many effects, and I thought that the production, although generally good, did not always assist the music. Plus there was always that Gothic feeling in the music which, while I’m sure it was what the band were after, didn’t suit me personally as well. Overall…a nice surprise. After wondering before whether the number of people in a Gothic metal band affects the quality, I am now certain of it!;) A two-piece is the way forward in widely appreciated Gothic metal! This enormously agreeable album has furthered Temujin’s work in lifting Gothic metal up my sub-genre charts, however I think it may take one more of these duos to assert it… 8/10 Lewis Klein Back to Reviews