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Life & Arts

Halos demonstrate longevity in rock with 'Control'

By Jason Gagnon
The Daily Cougar

It may have only been just a little over four years since the world was treated to an album by Vancouver punks The Black Halos, but it sure seems like a lifetime. After suffering a break up largely in part because of the departure of guitarist and primary songwriter Rich Jones (who went on to join, then abruptly leave, the horrendous Amen) one of the best bands of the last ten years have regrouped and come firing back with yet another stellar tribute to all that is dirty, snotty and defiant about rock 'n' roll. Mixing the glam of the New York Dolls with the filthy swagger of Johnny Thunders and wicked attitude of the Dead Boys, the Black Halos offer up a sonic cocktail that will intoxicate you well beyond the legal limit. 

The first thing that should be noted about Alive Without Control is that the absence of Jones doesn't impact the record at all. The songs are as great as anything the Halos have ever written but this time they are performed with an extra dose of angst and passion to let everyone who wrote them off long ago know that they were dead wrong. They are back and determined to rock fans and spectators harder than ever before.

Take a listen to the middle-finger anthem, the opener, "Three Sheets to the Wind" to get an idea of the band's attitude. "We don't care what the scenesters say / Don't like the stupid games they play / We're on the outside looking in / Our lives three sheets to the wind," Billy Hopeless snarls -- and listeners better believe they mean every word of it. 

What's always made the Black Halos such a terrific band is they never cared about trends or comments from the naysayers, but just kept kicking out jam after glorious jam. The aid of longtime producer Jack Endino (who worked with Nirvana) adds a lot to the record, be it the accentuation of brilliant DGeneration style leads ("Darkest Corners") or the addition of a wicked piano ("Alive Without Control"). Everything Endino does on this record enhances already great tunes. 

This is probably the most aggressive Halos record to date with some truly intense and urgent songs (including a high voltage cover of Tom Petty's "I Need to Know") that have the ability to bring rock 'n' roll back to its depraved glory. 

The Black Halos

Alive Without Control

Liquor and Poker

Verdict: The Black Halos aren't going anywhere, ladies and gentlemen, so crank up the stereos and enjoy the ride.
 
 

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