Sitting back listening to CAPTAIN BLACK BEARD you can hear the band has all the right elements to break out the rock with high velocity guitars and potent vocals yet settling into a mild rock style.
“Don't Turn Your Back On Love” which could be an explosive song because the music itself pumps you up but vocalist Sakaria Björklund seems like he doesn’t put full force into the lyrics. I’m not saying he’s not good, he is, but it seems he is just going through the motions of singing and not putting his heart into the track. The music has that full throttle sound of OUTLOUD but not as explosive.
Showing a sentimental side with “Rock Is My Life” the track is smooth and a sure highlight for CAPTAIN BLACK BEARD. When the song elevates midway through I was hoping it would keep that same excitement but falls back into a softer mood but picks it back up 3/4 through the track again. I would have liked if the song kept that same adrenaline rush but that is artistic direction.
“No Worries” picks it up a bit and I like that hook up between the keys and guitar, which gives the song some depth. “Summer Nights” has a classic sound as a smooth acoustic flare in the vein of STYX.
One of my favorite tracks is the suave tune “Rock Bottom”. It’s a slower song that shows great technique and this might be where the niche for CAPTAIN BLACK BEARD lies? The CD ends with “Rockin’ Body” and shows these boys can not only rock but show directional changes.
Musically I was happy with CAPTAIN BLACK BEARD. Vocally, I was a little disappointed. I think the band has great potential musically but need to focus on some vocal excitement from Bjorklund. He can sing but needs to put some punch and heart into the tracks with screams or moving up and down the octave scale a little.
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