Black Earth Child

Big Chocolate's talent has always shined in DTG, improving after every release. Sleeper, was a fantastic EP and I want to say that's my favorite album, but after listening to this release a couple times, I can easily say this is even better.

Believe it or not, the best part of this album is the fucking synths. Without them, Black Earth Child would have no character, atmosphere, identity, or anything to set it apart from what is is. It would be a hollow and empty record if it weren't for the synths. They're used at the perfect times to create a sinister, dark atmosphere. Sometimes, there are long interludes in the songs where the only thing you hear is the eerie and haunting noises of them and it's an absolute treat just to hear that. They also fit very well with the cover artwork, and it's almost as if you are living within it when listening to each song. Fantastic.

Enough with the synths already, let's get to the rest. Big C's gutturals are still low and beastly, but he's not doing anything new. Just grunting and gurgling every chance he gets. Very rarely, he will use his occasional backing high screams which sound as good as always but once again it's nothing too new. However, the production on his vocals has somewhat of a slimy, creepy tone tone to it like a snake spitting venom. His voice fits with the instruments excellently and still gives off the same creepy atmosphere that the rest of the album does.

The guitar riffs for the most part are actually pretty damn good but sometimes a bit lazy. It's a mixture of tremolo picking and slow chugs. The tremolo riffs are fucking awesome and really stand out at times. And while the chugs are fun, powerful, and still very heavy, it tends to happen a bit too much and is a bit repetitive. I guess the guitars can sit back more when the synths dominate a good portion of the album. Songs with particularly impressive guitar work are Phantasmal Tempest, Lead to the Desert, and Suffer Square. So in summary, the guitars aren't bad, but it leaves you asking for more. The bass is actually pretty audible and it sounds nice and chunky with the rest of the thick production, but its pretty much the same as the guitars. It does however have a few shining moments like when it trails off in Lead to the Desert before the synth ambience and even plays the main riff in Phantasmal Tempest on its own for a bit.

The drums have a much smoother sounding tone to them that sounds less hectic and more laid back. Double bass kicks are played with such ease and perfection, but sadly that's probably the only thing that makes the drumming stand out. There are a couple of nice blast beats but are rare to come across. No fills or anything else I would highly praise apart from the awesomely played footwork. Like the guitars, the drums are good but they just need more good moments.

So yes, Black Earth Child is overall a very enjoyable album. It has its own unique and very interesting sound that keeps it from sounding like so many other bands. The dark and ominous synths are the biggest highlight of the album and are the main reason why Black Earth Child stand on its own so well. The vocals, once again are awesome, but it seems the rest of the instrumentation has areas of flare but also some areas of boredom. It does not mean that Black Earth Child is a bad record by any means, because it is still excellent in its own right. However, knowing that Big C creates and composes all his music by himself is another major plus and I give him props for completely having his own sound and distancing himself from any other artist. He certainly knows how to show off his talent. This album, along with Sleeper easily take the cake for his best records.