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Black Eye: Black Eye
Black Eye - 2022 Debut Album Art

Black Eye: Black Eye

Melodic Power Metal
4.0/5.0

The new metal project Black Eye features one of the most prominent vocalists in the genres of hard rock and heavy metal: David Readman. Readman is known for his work with Pink Cream 69 when he replaced Andi Deris who want to Helloween. But his vocal credits continue with some more well-known bands across various genres including Adagio, Voodoo Circle, Silent Force, Place Vendome, Luca Turilli's Rhapsody, and more recently Tank. He's also dropped to solo albums, the most recent being Medusa in 2021.

David Readman Click For Larger Image

David Readman

Now the singer returns with a new project for Frontiers Music. Black Eye features some fine European talent with Aldo Lonobile(Secret Sphere, Archon Angel, et al) on guitar (and producing), guitarist Luca Princiotta (DORO), drummer David Folchitto (Fleshgod Apocalypse, Stormlord), and bassist Andrea Arcangeli (DGM).

What we find with Readman's Black Eye is a return to his metal influences, a twist between melodic heavy metal and European power metal. In this context, Readman sounds more aggressive in his vocal style, near raging, making him quite dominant in the arrangements. After this, between the rock rhythm and groove that rises, power metal speed and heaviness with blistering solos are found. More power metal tunes arrive with Break The Chains, Hurricane, When You're Gone, and Under Enemy's Fire. Alternatively, Readman and company moderate the tempo to more traditional steady heavy metal with No Turning Back and Darkest Night. Yet neither are without their faster moments: the latter song revs up for the guitar solo in the second half. The odd song in the middle (literally) of the heaviness is the power ballad Midnight Sunset where there some sweet subtlety between vocals and guitar at the midpoint. All in all, the Black Eye project reminds us of vocalist David Readman's assertive, strong, and melodic style when found in a melodic power metal context. Recommended.




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The Take Away

All in all, the Black Eye project reminds us of vocalist David Readman's assertive, strong, and melodic style when found in a melodic power metal context. Recommended.

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