It's certainly possible that I might've missed a little bit of pre-release hype, but I was pleasantly surprised to recently see unexpected news begin to spread about a new full-length from Boston's Black Helicopter mere days before its official street date. They've released some EPs in more recent years, but I believe this their first official full-length outing in like 15 years or something. The core aesthetic remains intact, but they've kind of developed into more of a... I don't want to say "standard" band, because that's not the case, but... I guess what I'm getting at is that some of the foundational elements of the Black Helicopter sound are what could've been classified as an "acquired taste." However, especially with this album, I find myself feeling like there's the potential for broader appeal from fans of slightly quirky, angular alternative rock. Things lean a little more toward the "rock" when it comes to the leads, but the remainder is peppered with some nice melodicisms and such, too—at times bordering on what might be deemed a sombered form of power pop?
Great production as well. Really warm and natural, hefty low-end, the occasional dash of textural skronk, etc. The mix is nice and clear, and the natural tendencies of the overall approach allow just the right amount of ruggedness, so everything sounds pretty perfect for this style.
I haven't seen a physical copy of Balancing Act yet, but it's limited to 300 copies on "orange crush" vinyl in a letterpress sleeve through Best Brother Records on Bandcamp. If you dig this and it's your first exposure to Black Helicopter, definitely head back to the early years and see how those albums strike you!
