Album Review: Black Space Riders – Amoretum Vol. 1 (Black Space Records)

Germany’s Black Space Riders will release their new album, Amoretum Vol. 1 on January 26, 2018 via Black Space Records.

All about upbeat riffs, Black Space Riders positive outlook shines through on Amoretum Vol. 1 as they blaze through 45 minutes of powerful & sonically challenging music. Fat riffs, a flowing groove and a certain psychedelic edge gets the body moving.

Moving seamlessly from one to another, Lovely Lovelie doesn’t exactly impress but Another Sort of Homecoming is sublime with its excellent melodies. There is almost a sort of 80’s rock to it, something that becomes even more prevalent on Soul Shelter (Inside of Me). Whatever was going on at the start is completely forgotten as Black Space Riders have upped their game to great levels!

The trippy & spacey elements return for the soft effort that is Movements, a boorish track up until it’s final few minutes where the tempo increases to deliver a rocking slab of hard rock.

Amoretum Vol. 1 can be a bit of a frustrating listen as when Black Space Riders get it right, it’s absolutely brilliant but a few of their ideas fall a bit flat. Come and Follow has some wicked riffs but the attempts to channel David Bowie in the vocals just sound forced, Friends Are Falling is catchy but mostly forgettable but Fire! Fire! (Death of a Giant) is an exciting & upbeat rifftastic track.

A varied & unusual album comes to a close with Fellow Peacemakers. Led by a nice piano melody, the beat slowly increases in tempo & volume as the excellent finale plays out.

Black Space Riders – Amoretum Vol. 1 Full Track Listing:

1. Lovely Lovelie
2. Another Sort of Homecoming
3. Soul Shelter (Inside of Me)
4. Movements
5. Come and Follow
6. Friends Are Falling
7. Fire! Fire! (Death of a Giant)
8. Fellow Peacemakers

You can order the album via Black Space Rider’s store and via Bandcamp. Find out more about the band via their website, Facebook, Twitter and check out some of their videos on YouTube.